Iran: Christian Women Among Political Prisoners Freed
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
NEW YORK, USA (Worthy News)– Two Christian women were among the nearly 100 political prisoners released from Iranian jails before that nation's newly elected president addressed the UN General Assembly in New York City Tuesday, according to Barnabas Aid.
Maryam Jalili and Mitra Rahmati were freed from Evin Prison before the completion of their sentences — for belonging to a Christian group that proselytized Muslims — as proof of President Hassan Rouhani's campaign promise to free political prisoners and uphold the rights of Iran's religious minorities.
Taking advantage of Rouhani's visit to NYC, Naghmeh Abedini, the American wife of jailed Pastor Saeed Abedini, hand-delivered a letter from him to Rouhani’s delegation Monday.
In the letter, Abedini characterized his eight-year sentence for Christian activities as unjust and called for a review of his case based of the principles of religious freedom found in Iran's own constitution.
Representing the Abedini family, the American Center for Law and Justice wrote: "If Iran's new president wants the American people and the international community to believe he is a true reformer, he must release Pastor Saeed. As long as prisoners of conscience, including a US citizen, suffer torment in Iranian prison, President Rouhani’s claims of change will remain unsubstantiated."