TEHRAN, Iran — An Iranian pastor freed from prison after nearly three years of detainment was re-arrested on Christmas Day in a move that human rights groups consider intentional harassment for rejecting Islam.
Youcef Nadarkhani, 35, had faced the death penalty for alleged “apostasy,” or leaving Islam, but in September a judge reduced the charge to evangelism and sentenced him to three years of prison. As he had already languished for two years and 11 months in prison, he was released Sept. 8.
On Christmas Day he was ordered to serve the remaining 45 days of his three-year prison sentence for evangelizing. Those close to the case and Nadarkhani’s family said the re-arrest may also have served as a direct message for the pastor to leave the Islamic Republic. Under the new sentencing, Nadarkhani would be released Feb. 8.
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