California pastor detained in Iran after protest

Eddie Romero was previously arrested in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics for demanding the release of Chinese activists

Pastor Eddie Romero (screen capture: YouTube/GMA News)
Pastor Eddie Romero (screen capture: YouTube/GMA News)

LA PUENTE, California — A retired Southern California pastor with a history of overseas activism was detained in Iran after staging a protest outside a prison demanding the release of Iranian Christians held inside.

The Pasadena Star-News reports Pastor Eddie Romero crossed into Iran from Turkey October 14 as part of a tourist group.

His daughter, Sarah Yetter, says Romero broke away from the group and reappeared Monday at Evin Prison in Tehran, chanting “Let my people go.”

Yetter says Romero broadcast about six minutes of his protest on the Internet using a smartphone hidden in his pocket.

He surrendered to guards who brought him inside the prison for questioning. His current whereabouts are unknown.

Romero was arrested in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics after demanding the release of five Chinese activists.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press

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