Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani jailed again, detained on Christmas Day

Youcef Nadarkhani, a pastor who was sentenced to death in Iran for the crime of apostasy and spent more than three years in prison, has been allegedly detained on Christmas Day.

Youcef Nadarkhani

In September, a court acquitted Pastor Nadarkhani of apostasy, but sentenced him to three years for evangelizing Muslims. Since he had already spent close to three years in Lakan Prison in Rasht, the pastor was released after posting bail.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) sources now report that Pastor Nadarkhani has now been returned to jail on the orders of the director of Lakan Prison, who claimed he had been released several days too early.

The pastor has now been return to prison to serve the remainder of this time and to complete paperwork that allegedly had not completed during his release in September.

Mervyn Thomas, CSW’s Chief Executive said: “We are disappointed to hear Pastor Nadarkhani has been returned to prison in such an irregular manner. The timing is insensitive and especially sad for his wife and sons, who must have been looking forward to celebrating Christmas with him for the first time in three years. We hope that Pastor Nadarkhani will be released without delay once this alleged sentence has been fully served. We are also asking for prayers for the pastor’s safety, and for his family at this difficult time.”