A Christian convert has been released from the remainder of her two-year prison sentence in Iran. The woman was pardoned as part of a general amnesty program. She was originally arrested three years ago for participating in a house church and began serving her sentence recently. She had previously served about half her term, including detention time and periods of medical leave. She was sentenced alongside three other converts. The group says the pardon allows her to avoid further incarceration under the state's amnesty program. (Source: Article 18)
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Amir Shiri on UnsplashPersecuted church
The wife of an imprisoned Iranian-Armenian pastor has been summoned to begin serving her thirteen-year sentence in Iran. She was convicted alongside her husband and three Christian converts for religious activities deemed illegal under Iranian law. The group faces a combined total of over seventy years in prison for charges including deviant proselytizing. This case highlights the ongoing persecution of Christian minorities in Iran, particularly those who share their faith. An Article 18 director urges Iran to respect international human rights obligations and release all Christian prisoners of conscience. The situation reflects a broader pattern of arrests against house-church leaders and converts in the country.
A UN expert emphasized the need for sustained support for civil society groups in Iran during a Human Rights Council dialogue. She highlighted the importance of long-term assistance for organizations documenting abuses, particularly those led by women and minorities. The expert urged authorities to release arbitrary detainees and stop human rights violations. She also recommended that member states use universal jurisdiction to prosecute perpetrators. Several countries highlighted the persecution of Baha’is. The expert stressed that accountability requires strong civil society and protection for victims fleeing persecution.
A British-Iranian Christian convert is on a hunger strike in a prison in Iran, protesting the denial of a Bible and death threats for apostasy. She has refused food and water since Saturday, marking her second strike in three months. Authorities reportedly told her that only those born into Christian families may possess Bibles in prison. A judge allegedly ordered her to recant her faith or face execution. The convert, serving a nine-year sentence, has previously reported abuse and rape while detained. The situation highlights ongoing religious persecution of converts in Iran.
A joint report by World Relief and Open Doors US states that zero individuals claiming asylum based on religious persecution have been resettled in the United States during fiscal year 2026. The organizations note this marks the first time in decades that persecuted religious minorities have been completely excluded from the program. While 29,478 refugees were resettled in 2024, numbers dropped to 9,916 in 2025. The report highlights concerns regarding Iranian Christians, citing a sharp decline in asylum approval rates and cases of individuals being deported or left in limbo abroad. The authors argue these trends violate foundational national principles.
Former political prisoners in Iran describe how authorities weaponized religious audio, including Quranic recitations and Shia lamentations, to inflict psychological torture. Testimonies from a pastor and an activist detail how forced exposure to these sounds in solitary confinement created lasting trauma. A journalist recalls similar abuses during past repression. A psychologist explains that this practice asserts state ideological authority and aims to transform prisoner identities. The article highlights how sacred noises, normally associated with worship, were distorted into tools of coercion and fear within the prison system.
A Canadian couple successfully sponsored the resettlement of an Iranian Christian convert to Canada. After the refugee was deported from the United States to Panama, the sponsors spent months seeking assistance before securing a spot through a charity. With legal help, they provided the required funds and church sponsorship. The refugee arrived in a Canadian city and was granted asylum. Reports highlight her relief at no longer facing displacement. Meanwhile, a US Congresswoman proposed legislation to prevent similar deportations of asylum-seekers from countries designated as severe religious freedom violators. This effort underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Christians fleeing persecution in Iran.
An article contrasts the Islamic Republic’s unveiling of a religious-themed metro station in a major city with the ongoing persecution of Christians. While officials presented the station as proof of tolerance, a senior church leader noted that such symbols mask harsh realities. The piece highlights the case of a Catholic convert and lawyer sentenced to over nine years for possessing a Bible. Her husband, who suffers from a debilitating disease, also endures hardship due to her imprisonment. The author argues that the regime’s treatment of this individual reveals the true nature of its policies, urging international attention to the plight of persecuted religious minorities in the country.
Two UN special rapporteurs sent a formal inquiry to Iran regarding the seizure of a historic church in a major city. The experts allege the compound was confiscated and its residents evicted, depriving a Christian community of worship space and homes. This action highlights a broader pattern of closures affecting Persian-speaking Protestants across various regions. The rapporteurs requested details on the legal basis for these actions and the denial of registration to a national evangelical synod. No response has been received from the government yet, raising concerns about the systematic restriction of religious freedom for minority groups within the country.
A Christian convert has returned to a prison in Iran after four months of medical leave. She is serving a two-year sentence for national security charges related to her participation in a house church. The convert was arrested in late 2023 and sentenced in mid-2024 alongside three other individuals, including two other converts and an unnamed person. The group faces accusations of forming an association aimed at disrupting national security. Her return follows a period of absence that began shortly before recent regional conflict. The specific identities of the other converts have been removed to protect their safety.
A Catholic convert imprisoned in Iran has detailed an alleged rape by a Ministry of Intelligence officer. According to a human rights news agency, the woman wrote that the assault occurred after her arrest in a major city. She describes being taken to an underground facility, assaulted, and then released with threats to remain silent. The convert, who is currently serving a sentence in a well-known prison, states she was rearrested and feared further violence. The account highlights alleged abuses within Iran's security apparatus.
A dedicated English teacher, who recently passed away at 95, traveled from the UK to a city in Iran in the mid-1950s to work at an institute for the blind. Originally heading elsewhere, she was redirected due to political unrest. She collaborated with local church leaders to assist blind women and children, staying for over two decades. Her efforts provided essential education and care in a culture that often stigmatized disability. She also married a local teacher during her long stay, contributing significantly to the community's welfare despite the challenging environment for Christians in the region.
A prominent Iranian lawyer known for representing Christians was released on bail after two months in a prison in a major city. She was arrested on charges including propaganda against the Islamic system. This attorney has defended several converts in custody disputes and those receiving prison sentences. Her detention involved incommunicado confinement. Another lawyer, also recently released, had represented Christians facing apostasy charges. These cases highlight the severe legal risks faced by attorneys defending religious minorities in Iran, where such legal persecution remains a significant threat to freedom of conscience.
A US missionary was detained in Iran for nine weeks after arriving on a tourist visa in December 1996. He and a companion were stopped at the border and taken to a capital city, where they were beaten and imprisoned in a notorious detention center. The missionary reported daily beatings and death threats for being a Christian worker and alleged spy. He was released following diplomatic efforts by the Swiss government, which held his passport. The Iranian president issued an executive order for his release, allowing him to fly to Germany and then Switzerland. The account comes from a December 2024 interview.
Iran's Ministry of Intelligence has designated several Christian satellite television networks as hostile media organizations under a new espionage law. This classification warns that cooperation with these entities may result in prosecution. At least five Christians have already received prison sentences totaling over 40 years under this statute. The ministry previously accused detained Christians of being foreign-trained mercenaries. A reporter noted that the vague definition of hostility allows security forces to target a wide range of media activities and social media users, further restricting religious expression within the country.
A report by Article 18 states that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has overseen four decades of systematic religious repression against Persian-speaking Christians. The article argues that the state developed a comprehensive framework combining criminal law and intelligence operations to restrict Christian growth. Key measures include the execution of a convert pastor in 1990, the closure of the Bible Society of Iran, and the confiscation of church properties in various cities. According to the outlet, these actions have effectively dismantled public Christian institutions and forced communities underground through national security charges. The report cites United Nations mechanisms and human rights organizations as documenting these consistent violations of freedom of religion.
An appeals court in Iran has upheld prison sentences totaling over 70 years for five Christians convicted of ordinary religious activities. The group includes a pastor, his wife, and three converts. They were originally sentenced last October for acts such as prayer and baptism. Although no hearing was held, the court rejected their appeals. The individuals face combined terms of 48 years in practice, as Iranian law enforces only the highest sentence among multiple convictions. Additionally, their personal property, including Bibles, was confiscated by the Ministry of Intelligence. This case highlights the ongoing persecution of Christians in Iran for practicing their faith.
A pastor in Iran describes severe persecution after his Persian-speaking church was banned. He states that the government used recognized minorities to falsely advertise religious freedom while tightly controlling them through the Ministry of Intelligence. In 2014, armed agents raided a Christmas gathering at his home, leading to his arrest and a ten-year prison sentence. The pastor claims the trial lasted only seconds and was predetermined. After his sentence was confirmed, he and his wife fled the country. He argues that closing churches inadvertently strengthened the underground house-church movement, highlighting the ongoing struggle for religious liberty in the region.
A former Assyrian Pentecostal minister in Iran describes years of harassment by the Ministry of Intelligence. Born in a city in western Iran, he led churches in the capital and other regions before facing intensified threats starting in the mid-1990s. The article details how state agents monitored his activities, dissolved his ministers' council, and issued violent threats against him and his family. The minister notes that authorities prohibited Persian-language services and barred Muslims from attending. Despite surveillance and intimidation, he continued his ministry, attributing his resilience to his faith. The account highlights the systemic pressure placed on religious minorities in Iran.
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