Iran: Three Christians Sentenced to More Than 40 Years in Prison

Abbas Soori, Mehran Shamloui, and Narges Nasri, who is pregnant, were sentenced by Revolutionary Court Judge Iman Afshari on March 8, 2025, which is International Women's Day.

Narges, 37, received the heaviest sentence: 10 years for "propaganda activities contrary to Islamic law," plus 5 years for belonging to an "opposition group" (a house church), and an additional year for "propaganda against the state" for a message supporting the Women, Life, Freedom movement.

Abbas, 48, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, divided into 10 years for "propaganda activities" and 5 years for belonging to an "opposition group." Mehran, 37, was sentenced to 8 years in prison for the first charge and 2 years and 8 months for the second.

The court also sentenced them to years of deprivation of social rights in the areas of health, employment, and education—15 years for Narges and Abbas, and 11 years for Mehran—as well as a fine of 330 million tomans ($3,500) each for Narges and Abbas, and 250 million ($2,750) for Mehran.

The three Christians were arrested on November 3, 2024, during simultaneous raids by intelligence agents on their homes in Tehran, during which personal belongings, including Bibles, crosses, and musical instruments, were confiscated. (Mehran is a musician, and the equipment the agents confiscated was worth approximately $5,500.)

The Christians were then transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is under the control of the Intelligence Ministry. They were released on bail equivalent to more than $20,000 each a month later, after a series of lengthy and intensive interrogations.

At least 10 other Christians were arrested on the same day in November during coordinated raids on Christian homes across the country, including in the cities of Karaj (near Tehran), Mashhad in the northeast, and Shiraz and Bandar Abbas in the south. 

The judge is known for the severity of his sentences and the numerous verdicts handed down against minorities and activists.

This persecution of Christians confirms the fact that there is a "clear regression" of religious freedom in Iran, linked to the increasing repression by the authorities following the protests that erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini at the hands of the morality police, explains AsiaNews.

Also coming from Iran is news of the release of Somayeh Rajabi, who left Mati Kola prison on March 8, the day the 3 other Christians were sentenced. Arrested on February 6 during a prayer meeting in Mazandaran province, the woman was released after posting bail of more than $40,000.

Article 18 director Mansour Borji emphasizes that "setting exorbitant bail for Christians detained solely for practicing their religion is a cruel and oppressive tactic." As millions of Iranians face harsh austerity measures, the government is exploiting their financial hardship to further punish and silence religious minorities.”