A church leader in Iran has been released from prison after being arrested for 'propagating Christianity.'
Matthias Haghnejad had been serving a six-year sentence on charges of ‘acting against the security of the country by forming a house church and providing information to the enemies of Islam.’
These charges had been brought against him despite his earlier acquittal in 2014. However, in January 2022, they were reinstated shortly after he was acquitted of ‘endangering state security,’ for which he had already spent nearly three years in prison from February 2019 to December 2021.
In July 2023, Pastor Haghnejad was transferred to Minab prison, over 1,000 miles from his home in Bandar Anzali, following accusations of undermining state security. These accusations were based on the testimony of a couple who had been pressured by authorities to falsely incriminate him and another Church of Iran leader, Yousef Nadarkhani. Despite the accusations, Pastor Haghnejad had never met the couple, and Pastor Nadarkhani had only a vague acquaintance with them.
CSW’s Founder President, Mervyn Thomas, said: “While we welcome the release of Pastor Haghnejad, we maintain he was detained unjustly following a process amounting to double jeopardy. We call on the Iranian authorities to release all other prisoners currently imprisoned in relation to their religion or belief. We also urge Iran to end its effective criminalisation of Christianity, and to respect, protect and fulfil the right to freedom of religion or belief for every citizen, regardless of their religious affiliation or belief.”
Pastor Haghnejad is now home with his family.
Iran ranks ninth on Open Doors' list of countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.