Maryam Rustampoor & Marzieh Amirizadeh are finally acquitted and free. However, besides them, at least dozens of Christians, many of them former Muslims, were detained in recent months, some being held for weeks or months in solitary confinement, and some recently released.

Hamid Shafiee and Reyhaneh Aghajary's Conditional Release

A Christian couple who were arrested and detained for 75 days on the charges of evangelizing the Christian faith in the city of Isafahan was released conditionally after posting a $100,000 bail bond.

Mr. Hamid Shafiee and Mrs. Reyhaneh Aghajary, who were arrested at their home on February 28, 2010 were released separately after posting heaving bail and commitments to the government, reported FCNN.

They were both charged with evangelization of the Christian faith. Mrs. Aghajary was first released on May 16, 2010, and 3 days later her husband Mr. Shafiee was released after posting a $100,000 bail, in order to return to their children.

They will still be summoned by the local court to appear before a judge to review their charges and possibly face a trial on these and/ or other charges.

Daniel Shahri freed temporarily

Daniel Shahri a young 19 years old man of Isafahan, who was arrested on April 11, 2010 by the security agents and detained in the Dastgerd prison was also released conditionally on April 24, 2010. During his detention a hastily arranged court hearing was held at which time he was charged with "evangelization of the Christian faith as well as unlawful internet activities". He was also released conditionally, after posting a bail bond, and awaiting his court date in a near future.

Vahik Abrahamian: Temporary Release

Vahik Abrahamian, a 44 years old Armenian Christian, who was arrested and detained for 53 days in solitary confinement, was released temporarily from the Evin Priosn. While detained, Mr. Abrahamian did not have access to a lawyer or his family members.

Mr. Abrahamian was arrested along with his wife after visiting a friend's house. His wife was released shortly afterwards, but he was detained for 53 days until his release on April 24, 2010 on bail. He still awaits a court appearance to face any possible charges against him.

Mr. Abrahamian, who is dual citizen of Iran and the Netherlands, had voluntarily returned to Iran to serve his people as a social worker and to demonstrate the love of God to them. He was working with helping drug addicts to be freed from their addictions providing spiritual counselling for them.

Maryam & Marzieh: Acquitted and Free

Iranian Christian women who refused to recant their faith now safe in another country. The report from Elam Ministries confirms that Maryam Rostampour , and Marzieh Amirizadeh, fourteen months after they were arrested for their Christian faith and activities, have now been acquitted of all charges by Iranian judicial authorities. But they were warned that any future Christian activity in Iran will be seriously dealt with, according to Elam. On Saturday they left Iran and arrived safely in another country.

Maryam and Marzieh were eager to thank Christians who have been praying for them. They told Elam: "... the prayers of people encouraged and sustained us throughout this ordeal."

Maryam and Marzieh were first arrested in March 2009. Both women refused to recant their faith in Jesus Christ despite harsh treatment. They faced repeated interrogations, weeks in solitary confinement and unhealthy prison conditions. They were detained in Tehran's Evin Prison, considered the worst prison in Iran. Both became ill during their imprisonment and did not receive the treatment they needed, which greatly increased their suffering. Senior judges and officials also intimidated them.

After their conditional release from prison in November 2009, they had a trying six months waiting for their case to be heard in an Islamic court, where they could have been sentenced to prison again.

Sources:
Elam Ministries
FCNN
Compass Direct
Open Doors