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Christian pastor arrested for second time in Iran

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    Man brought back to serve out sentence for converting

  • Duration 4:31
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-- disturbing case of deja do as a Christian pastor is arrested for a second time in Iran on Christmas Day.

You sit -- Connie had been acquitted and released back in September after being sentenced to death.

On charges of converting from Islam to christianity but it turns out.

That wasn't his only charge and now he's been brought back in to serve out his sentence.

As we learned his lawyer also being targeted just for trying to help him.

GA section he's the chief counsel with the American Center for Law and Justice his group has been leading the charge to help -- -- -- Connie.

Thank you for joining us first of all and bring us up to speed on the latest information as -- you know like pastor not a Connie.

Well as of right now we've got a situation where passed an article on it was arrested on December 25 by the way there are two now prominent.

Christian pastors in jail -- site -- an American citizen.

Is in prison in Iran as is of course you step in our economy -- -- rearrest and by the way they're saying this is to fill fill the remainder of his term.

But the fact of the matter is legally of course I -- doesn't -- their own laws but legally.

His term was complete because they let him out and said that he was not guilty of the higher charged.

Of -- converting from Islam -- rather was more of the evangelizing.

So we've got a situation right now where again the lawless regime in -- Iran is trying to flex its muscles here targeting.

Two Christian pastors -- of -- -- when we're talking about right now but this other American pastor also in -- And basically it's the same thing they don't want these pastors exercising.

Their religious liberty rights and interestingly I ran although they don't follow any of the laws they signed have signed on to universal declarations of human rights they even have it in their constitution.

But the reality is these pastors are not feeling that at all and to the contrary as you mention Heather his lawyer a Mohammed doctor -- a Muslim by the way.

Is in jail nine year sentence his crime representing -- not a Connie and I might say winning.

The case against you step in our economy right and -- up his victory for about was nine years imprisonment ten years being disbarred.

And he's in prison right now.

I was -- couple questions to follow up on all that egg nine year sentence how much of that.

Do you expect he'll have to serve are you working to free hand and then without -- -- Connie returning.

How much longer descendants are they asking that he serve out he -- that what 1000 days already.

Right three years basically and they're asking for another 45 where hopefully get him out immediately -- we're pressing on all the international organizations including the United Nations.

To demand his release this is an -- -- Tragedy.

And travesty of justice with regard to Mohammed docket this is a unbelievable situation that I read is getting away with this they -- a prominent human rights lawyer who successfully represented use of our -- and as -- -- disbarred him and he.

Prohibit him from practicing law or teaching and this is and lawyer that's got an international reputation.

What it's gonna take to get him out of jail is the American people.

And people around the world of good will saying.

I ran it doesn't get away with this includes our State Department it also includes the United Nations -- all the talk that's going on right now.

In the State Department on other issues I understand there's a lot going on.

But they were very helpful when you sit -- -- release and I'm hopeful that they will be again and with regard to the lawyer I think the UN's human right track but more needs to step in and step in now and end this charade of justice that's taking place in Iraq.

And and finally what about any danger that pastor not a Connie would be facing at this point are you in fear for -- and then finally.

What have -- your statement do you think that Iran is trying to make -- because clearly they're trying to make some sort of statement picking him up on Christmas Day.

Well their -- their biggest concern I think and I ran when you've got the Iranian revolutionary guard -- -- which and pesticides case that when that's an American citizen that's operating descent who's now in jail as well.

You have Iranian guard -- -- the revolutionary guard they believe that christianity is a crime against the state.

They don't like Christians and I -- period and they're trying to exercise their authority the message sure look it was Christmas Day that they picked him up that's no coincidence.

And I think with regard to use -- -- -- -- any time any individual that we're representing whether she's up -- -- -- Pesticide or Mohammed -- -- a lawyer are not Iranian jail you have to be worried other because those jails are notorious.

Up for brutality then we're not taking anything for granted here and not leaving any stone and -- We've got our offices around the globe.

Working on this right now securing -- secured all three of the release.

Thank you --

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