Christian Convert Sentenced to Imprisonment and Flogging on New Year's Day

According to human rights sources, Ghazal Marzban, a Christian convert imprisoned in Evin Prison, was sentenced on the first day of 2025 to six months in prison, 74 lashes, and a five-year ban on using a smartphone for "propaganda against the regime" and "failure to observe mandatory hijab in public." The verdict was issued by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, against this 41-year-old convert who opposes mandatory hijab. Human rights sources indicate that one-third of the prison term will be served, while two-thirds will be suspended. Additionally, the flogging sentence has been declared convertible. Ghazal Marzban, 41 years old and from Lasht-e Nesha in Gilan Province, was arrested on November 6, 2024, in Tehran by government agents and transferred to the women's section of Evin after spending two days in the Vazara detention center. According to the Defense Lawyers Group, the initial reason for Marzban's arrest was her comments opposing "warmongering and war with Israel." After a case was formed, the charges against this Christian convert, under the titles of "propaganda against the regime" and "failure to observe mandatory hijab," were referred to the Revolutionary Court. After being transferred to Evin Prison, Marzban went on a hunger strike for a week starting from December 23 in protest of her detention conditions. Reports indicate that she sustained serious rib injuries during her detention. This ruling and her detention conditions have been condemned by human rights organizations as examples of the harsh restrictions and punishments against religious minorities and opponents of the Islamic Republic. The organization Article 18 previously reported that the number of Christians arrested in Iran in 2023 increased from 134 to 166 compared to the previous year. This organization states that despite the recognition of three religious minorities—Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians—in the Iranian Constitution, Christian converts are not recognized and are deprived of many civil rights in Iran. Article 18: A Christian convert was arrested by the Revolutionary Guards. A Christian convert in Karaj was sentenced to 10 years in prison. A total of 160 years of imprisonment and flogging sentences were issued for 34 religious and ethnic minority activists in the past six months.