California Pastor Eddie Romero arrested protesting Iran unlawfully imprisoning Christians will be sent back to the US

A pastor from California was arrested on Monday while conducting a protest in Iran surrounding five Christians that have been unlawfully imprisoned in the country.

Eddie Romero  was taken into custody as he spoke outside of Evin Prison, where the Christians are being held.

Romero’s daughter now states that her father called his family from the Swiss Embassy in Tehran and he would be returning to the US Wednesday afternoon.

Reports stated that he had been traveling with a tourist group overseas this month, and broke away from the group last Thursday and then crossed into Iran through Turkey.

Romero was reportedly in front of Evin Prison, speaking in several languages and recorded a video prior to the arrest, which he posted on his ministry website, Exodus8One. The footage indicates that he anticipated being arrested, but called the apprehension “an honor.”

“I said out loud, ‘The Lord says, let My people go so that they may worship Me,’” he explains, quoting from the Book of Exodus. “There are five men in there that are undeserving to be behind these walls.”

“These are men of faith and conscience that bring good to society and nothing bad at all,” Romero continued, outlining his speech. “So, I call upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to release these five noble persons.”

The pastor, professor and activist was referring to Farshid Fathi, an Iranian pastor; Saeed Abedini, an Iranian native and American citizen who was arrested while building an orphanage in the country; Mostafa Bordbar, an Iranian Christian activist; Alireza Seyyedian, a member a house church in the country; and Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, an Iranian attorney and co-founder of Defenders of Human Rights in Iran.

He broadcast his protest live in front of the prison on UStream until the feed cut out.