Fifteen Years in Prison for Yasin Mousavi, Christian Convert, on Charges of 'Promoting Christianity'

Yasin Mousavi, a Christian convert, was sentenced to fifteen years in prison by the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz on charges of 'propaganda against the regime through the promotion of Christianity.' According to the Harana website, the hearing for his charges took place on May 28 in the third branch of the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz, presided over by Fathi-Nia. During this court session, this Christian convert was convicted on charges including 'membership in groups aimed at undermining the security of the country and propaganda against the regime through the promotion of Zionist Christianity,' leading to a fifteen-year prison sentence. Yasin Mousavi was previously arrested on December 24, 2023, along with several other Christian converts in the city of Izeh. After enduring twenty days of solitary confinement in the Ministry of Intelligence, he was transferred to Shiban Prison in Ahvaz. This Christian convert was released on April 30, 2024, after serving 15 months in prison, upon posting bail. Mousavi has a history of arrests and imprisonment due to his religious activities, having been detained in October 2017, April 2021, and November 2022. The UN Human Rights Council stated on March 9 of last year that 'human rights violations' in Iran particularly affect women, children, and ethnic and religious minorities. According to the organization Article 18, which advocates for Christian rights, the number of detained Christians in Iran increased from 134 to 166 in 2023 compared to the previous year. The report from this non-profit organization indicated that 22 Christians residing in Iran faced judicial sentences in 2023 for charges such as 'propaganda against the regime' and 'actions against national security,' with 21 of them imprisoned. Article 18 added that despite the recognition of three religious minorities—Zoroastrians, Jews, and Christians—in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Christian converts are not recognized and are deprived of many civil rights in Iran. There is an increase in pressure from security forces on Sunni religious figures to encourage people to participate in government 'elections.' Aziz Qasemzadeh is suffering from prostate cancer; this teachers' union activist was deprived of treatment for months in Rasht prison. Farzaneh Qareh-Hassanlou is on hunger strike in Mashhad prison; the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom expressed concern.