|PIC1|Release International has urged Christians to continue praying for two female Christian converts released from prison in Iran this week.

Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad were released without bail on Wednesday, after spending 259 days in Tehran's notorious Evin prison for converting to Christianity.

Release said it was important to pray for the two women, who still face trial for charges of apostasy and sharing their Christian faith.

"The message is: keep praying for Maryam and Marzieh," it said.

The two women refused to convert back to Islam when they were brought before the courts earlier in the year.

'Words are not enough to express our gratitude to the Lord and to his people who have prayed and worked for our release," they told Elam Ministries.

Release warned that the two women were remained under surveillance following their release.

"It's not over yet … Pray that the charges would be dropped," it said.

Their release was welcomed by the former Bishop of Rochester, the Rt Rev Michael Nazir-Ali.

"I am thankful that they have been set free without conditions of bail and pray that justice will be done for them and for others who are being held in Iran in due course," he said.

He said it was ironic, however, that the two women were be released as the same time as the British Home Office is proposing to deport an Iranian Christian back to Iran.

"Amir – not his real name – attends an Orthodox church in the north of England and is on the church committee. It seems clear that if he is deported he will face interrogation, arrest and possible imprisonment in Iran simply because he is a Christian," he said.

"I appeal to the Home Office to allow Amir to remain free and to continue living in safety in this country.

"Iranian Christians, whether in Iran or the UK, strive to be good and loyal citizens, and we continue to pray that their fundamental liberties will be upheld."