Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian pastor once sentenced to death for apostasy, was arrested again on Friday (13 May), but released later that day.
His wife Tina was also arrested and released, but three other Christians are still being detained, following raids on a number of Christian homes in the northern city of Rasht.
It is not the first time the three detained Christians – Yasser Mossayebzadeh, Saheb Fadaie and Mohammad Reza Omidi – have been arrested. Omidi was initially detained in December 2012 and later sentenced to 80 lashes for allegedly drinking alcohol as part of Holy Communion. (Alcohol is banned in Iran.)
Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that the Christians had their Bibles, computers and mobile phones confiscated.
This was also the second time Nadarkhani has been arrested since his release from prison in September 2012.