Ethnic Iranians are seen as being Muslim, and carrying out any Christian activities in their Farsi language is illegal. An Iranian man who leaves Islam can be sentenced to death and a woman to life imprisonment, although such sentences haven’t been carried out for more than 20 years. However, in 2017 over a dozen Christians – most of them converts to Christianity – were given prison sentences of between 10 and 15 years for “acting against national security”. According to religious freedom watchdog Article 18, such political charges attempt “to avoid international outcry at religiously motivated charges”. Several imprisoned Iranian Christians have undertaken hunger strikes in protest.
Iranian Christian back in prison again
On 17 Sep., Maryam Naghash Zargaran was returned to prison after her medical treatment was again cut short. Her friends and family reported that she was again unable to receive adequate treatment during her time at home. Amnesty International has in its prisons. Amnesty mentioned Zargaran, an Iranian Christian who […]
Convert explains journey to Christianity, and why he left Iran
The Fatema Mæ’sume shrine in Qom, a religiously conservative city 150km south of Tehran.World Watch Monitor In Iran, converting from Islam to Christianity can land you in prison or even get you killed. However, many Iranians – considered “Muslims” regardless of personal beliefs – still “convert”. World Watch Monitor […]
Iranian Christian released, but another beaten
An Iranian Christian [UPDATE: named by implication, December 2017 as Amin Khaki] has been released from prison and told he does not need to serve a suspended sentence of a further year in jail, reports MEC. However, three fellow Christians arrested with him in March 2014 at a picnic in Shush, […]
Third Iranian Christian granted bail
Mohammad Reza Omidi has been granted bail in the northern city of Rasht after paying the equivalent of $33,000, the same amount as fellow Christians Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Saheb Fadaie, who were released a week earlier. The trio were arrested on 13 May alongside Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian pastor once […]
Iran: Nadarkhani released, 3 others detained
Youcef Nadarkhani, an Iranian pastor once , 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 […]
Iranians await appeal verdict
Four Iranian Christians are awaiting the verdict of an appeal against their one-year jail sentences for spreading Christianity in Iran. Amin Khaki, Hossein Barounzadeh, Mohammad Bahrami and Rahman Bahmani were sentenced in October 2015. Their appeal was heard on 1 Feb. and the judge is expected to give a ruling […]
Abedini reflects upon time in Iran prison
American-Iranian pastor Saeed Abedini has spoken out about his three and a half years in an Iranian prison, having . Abedini, who was imprisoned in 2012, described severe beatings and extensive periods in solitary confinement. He also said the judge who sentenced him had claimed he planned to use Christianity […]
US pastor released from Iran jail
Christian pastor Saeed Abedini is on his way home to his family in the United States, after being released from prison in Iran, the American Centre for Law & Justice confirmed on 17 Jan. The Iranian-born US pastor was released on 16 Jan. as part of a prisoner-swap deal between […]
Iranian pastor released after 5 years in jail
An Iranian pastor has been released early from prison, just six months after he failed to appeal a sentence to an extra year in jail and 74 lashes for allegedly possessing two litres of alcohol in his prison cell. Farshid Fathi was serving a six-year prison sentence – extended to […]
Iranian Christians released ‘temporarily’
Three Iranian Christians have been released from prison in the southern city of Shiraz. Although officially they have been granted only temporary leave, that they have been led to believe they will not have to return. Mehdi Ameruni, Seyed Bijan Farokhpour Haghigi and Eskander Rezai were arrested at a prayer […]