Arrest of Several Christian Citizens in Tehran Province; Their Charges Are Unclear

Human rights sources report that on Thursday, February 7, government agents of the Islamic Republic simultaneously arrested several Christian citizens in Tehran Province, but provided no reason for any of these arrests. These sources, on Tuesday, February 21, announced the identification of two of the detainees, stating that agents from the Ministry of Intelligence raided the homes of Nasser Nord Gol-tappeh and Joseph Shahbazian in the cities of Parand and Tehran on the morning of Thursday, February 7, and transferred them to Evin Prison. According to reports, Nasser Nord Gol-tappeh has gone on a hunger strike in protest against the illegality of his detention. Joseph Shahbazian, who had previously been arrested for 'religious activities,' was released on September 13, 2023, after serving more than a year in Evin Prison. His initial sentence was 10 years in prison, but after the ruling was overturned by the Supreme Court in March 2023, the 21st branch of the Tehran Court of Appeals reduced the initial ruling from 10 years to 2 years on June 24, 2023. The charge against this Christian citizen was 'acting against national security through membership, administration, and formation of a home church of evangelical Christianity and creating a group aimed at disrupting the security of the country.' Nasser Nord Gol-tappeh was also released from prison on October 17, 2022, after serving about five years. He became eligible for 'conditional release' after serving one-third of his sentence, but his sentence reduction was repeatedly opposed. This Christian convert had been sentenced to 10 years in prison since 2017 for forming and managing a home church. According to a recent report by three global Christian organizations, only in 2024, 96 Christian citizens in Iran have been sentenced to a total of 263 years in prison. Meanwhile, the Iranian government has repeatedly claimed that Christians in Iran enjoy religious freedom and can hold religious ceremonies, but Armenians and Assyrians who share their Christian faith with Persian-speaking Christians are severely repressed. The European Parliament condemned human rights violations in Iran and the persecution of minorities, including Christians, by passing a resolution on Thursday, January 24, 2025. The organization Article 18 reported a sixfold increase in prison sentences for Christians in Iran. A Christian convert was sentenced to imprisonment and flogging on the first day of the new Gregorian year. The organization Article 18 reported that a Christian convert was arrested by the Revolutionary Guards. A Christian convert in Karaj was sentenced to 10 years in prison.