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The Conditional Release of Two Detained Iranian Christians from Karoon Prison in Ahvaz

By Dan Wooding

Founder of ASSIST Ministries

AHVAZ, IRAN (ANS) -- Two new Christian believers who were arrested by security agents and spent more than 63 days in Karoon prison of Ahvaz were conditionally released after posting a combined bail of $100,000 USD.

According to sources close to Mohabat News (www.mohabatnews.com), the Iranian Christian news agency, the temporary release of these prisoners of conscience from custody coincides with the recent conditional freedoms granted to political and security-risk prisoners.

Mostafa Shokrollahi and Khalil Yarali, who were arrested in January of 2011 by the security agents and held in custody in Karoon prison of Ahvaz were released after 63 days in detention.

Ahvaz is the capital of the oil-rich province of Khuzestan and is about 543 miles Southwest of Tehran.

The conditional released was allowed after each defendant posted a bond of approximately $50,000 USD.

Sources familiar with this case have informed Mohabat News that the court hearing for these two individuals will be held next month.

“In light of the fact that currently these individuals have been charged with national security crimes, it is possible that they may be sentenced to prison terms of between 2-5 years,” said a spokesperson for Mohabat News.

“Mostafa Shokrollahi was arrested on January 15, 2011 concurrent with the wave of arrested and repressive measures that were enacted by the government to crack down on the activities of Christians in Tehran and cities all over Iran.

“Khalil Yarali, another Christian man arrested at the same time, was taken to the main offices of the Ministry of Information and subsequently detained at an unknown location,” added the spokesperson.

Dan Wooding, 70, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for 47 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren who all live in the UK. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS) and was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. He now hosts the weekly “Front Page Radio” show on KWVE in Southern California which is also carried on the Calvary Radio Network throughout the United States. The program is also aired in Great Britain on Calvary Chapel Radio UK. Besides this, Wooding is a host for His Channel Live, which is carried via the Internet to some 200 countries. You can follow Dan on Facebook under his name there or at ASSIST News Service. He is the author of some 44 books. Two of the latest include his autobiography, “From Tabloid to Truth”, which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, press this link. Wooding, who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, has also recently released his first novel “Red Dagger” which is available this link.

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