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American pastor sentenced to 8 years in Iranian prison

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    Amy Kellogg reports from London, England

  • Duration 2:36
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The American pastor on trial in Iran for opening a network of Christian churches now learning his fate.

So I -- -- Dini sentenced to eight years of Iran's most brutal jail.

After getting the news -- but he -- wife living in Boise Idaho says quote.

With today's development time devastated for my husband and my family we must now pursue every effort turn over every rock.

And not stop until Sunday to safely on American soil Amy Kellogg live in London on this story -- the US State Department now getting involved any.

The US State Department is bill they say that they're actively engaged in this case in -- In close contact with the family of course it's such a sensitive situation right now that they are not going to dive -- Exactly what they are doing all of this complicated of course by the fact that the US and Iran.

Do not have diplomatic relations now what's very puzzling to Christian groups following this case is that.

It's not clear why -- -- was arrested over the summer and then sentenced now he had converted to Islam back in 2000.

He had apparently been involved in this network -- house churches but he had a sort of agreement with the running of authorities that if he didn't need tantalized.

He would be able to travel back and forth he now lives in Boise Idaho.

Back and forth to Iran to visit family and do some work with an orphanage as long as he did not evangelize and apparently.

He had not been doing that but he was picked up anyway.

And what Christian solidarity worldwide which is based here in London bill is concerned about.

Is that the charge.

Is a political one national security and they're worried that the Iranian authorities are now rather than talking about religion talking about.

Political issues and that makes it all that much more security is -- is the situation for Christians in Iran for them and we we know bill there -- 300000.

Christians in Iran many of them are median -- -- Syrian.

But it's the evangelicals.

That -- who are under the most.

Scrutiny they have this a network of what they call house churches and increasingly according to sources here at those networks are being infiltrated.

And those are the Christians who really.

Are in trouble these days they are being crack down on its estimated hundreds of them are in jail.

You may remember the case -- -- it's not -- Connie pastors who was in jail for several years was recently released.

But still his situation in Iran is tenuous and it's not just.

Christians -- several journalists were released and were arrested over the weekend believed to be an act of intimidation.

Ahead of the upcoming presidential elections -- that -- -- thanks Amy Amy Kellogg on -- story in London now next step.

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