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Iranian Pastor Freed after Six Years

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After six years behind bars, Iranian Pastor Behnam Irani has been released from prison.

The 41-year-old pastor was convicted of crimes against national security after Iranian authorities raided his house church in 2010. His sentence was extended in 2014 after the government brought 18 additional charges against him, including capital crime.

Open Doors USA's World Watch List ranks Iran the ninth harshest country on its treatment of Christians. More than 200 Christians are imprisoned in Iran, Mission Network News (MNN) reported.

Open Doors USA is asking people to pray for them.

"First and foremost, our prayers are absolutely vital," spokesperson Emily Fuentes told MNN. "We see amazing situations come from our prayers – prisoners who have been released in the past, early. And they also say they feel our prayers as they're encountering these difficult times in prison."

"Prayers help them to remain strong in their faith, to witness to other prisoners," Fuentes explained. "They realize their ministry, even though it's within prison, is still very prominent. They're reaching out to people who haven't heard the Gospel before, those who really need the Gospel, and people are coming to Christ in prison."

During his six years behind bars, Behnam spent time in solitary confinement, suffering serious health problems as a result.

His friends and family are asking people to pray for his spiritual, emotional and physical recovery.

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