Overseas Conversion Leads to Prison Sentence

The entrance to the Evin Prison
Evin Prison, where Laleh is being held.
Photo: Flickr / sbzphoto (cc)

For some time, an Iranian woman named Laleh Saati lived in Malaysia and, while there, she was baptized as a Christian. Not wanting to return to Iran, Laleh applied for asylum, but the process continued to drag on without resolution. Frustrated with the delay, as well as missing her elderly parents, she returned to Iran in 2017.

Since her return, Laleh had been summoned for interrogation by intelligence agents multiple times. Then, on February 13th of this year, the Christian convert was arrested at her father's home in Ekbatan Town, a suburb of Tehran. Photographs and videos of her baptism and Christian activities in Malaysia were presented as evidence against her.

On March 16th, the 45-year-old believer was brought before a judge who asked her why she risked returning to her home country, given that she had "done such things [Christian activities] outside of Iran." She was then sentenced to two years' imprisonment, followed by a two-year travel ban for "acting against national security by connecting with 'Zionist' Christian organizations."

This case clearly demonstrates that Iranian authorities are able to obtain information on the activities of asylum seekers in foreign countries and use that against them. While most Western countries acknowledge the dangers faced by Iran's Christians, asylum claims are often rejected if the judge questions the genuine nature of a religious conversion. For more information on persecution in Iran and the difficulties experienced by our Christian brothers and sisters in this Middle Eastern country, go to our country report.

Remember Laleh in your prayers as she faces this two-year prison sentence. Pray that she will receive the comfort, courage and spiritual strength needed to continue standing firm in her faith. May God soften the hearts of the Iranian authorities involved in Laleh's case, allowing this Christian woman to be freed of all charges and thus released from prison. Also uphold Laleh's parents during this painful time of separation, asking that they too would tangibly sense the Lord's comforting presence with them.

  • Current Ministry Fund

    By funding television broadcasts, VOMC is making it possible for a vast audience of viewers to be reached throughout Iran with the "Good News" of Jesus' love via satellite.

    Project Fund: Underground Church

  • Country Information

    Designation
    Persecuted

    Population
    87,590,873 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity
    Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribes

    Religion (%)
    Islam (98.5), Christian (0.7), Baha'i (0.3), agnostic (0.3), other (0.2)

    Leader
    Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-Khamenei (1989)

    Government type
    Theocratic republic

    Legal system
    Religious legal system based on secular and Islamic law

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Iran

    As the Gospel message goes forth over the airwaves, may the growth of the church continue to multiply despite persecution. Pray that the Iranian government will be open to change, allowing full rights and protection for its non-Muslim citizens as well. In the meantime, may those who are forced to flee the country find safe refuge and help so they can live in peace and worship the Lord with freedom.

Iran News

  • Armenian Christian Faces Ten-Year Sentence
    Hakop Gochumyan
    Hakop Gochumyan
    Photo: Article18

    Hakop Gochumyan and his wife Elisa are citizens of Armenia who went to Iran for vacation in August 2023. While the Christian couple and their two children were having dinner at a friend's house, agents from the Ministry of Intelligence raided the property. The authorities took the Christian family to the home of Elisa's grandmother, where the believers had been staying, and proceeded to search the residence. During the raid, Christian books and other personal belongings were confiscated. The couple was then taken to Evin Prison where they faced interrogation and intense psychological torture.

  • Esmaeil Narimanpour Sentenced to Prison
    Esmaeil Narimanpour
    Esmaeil Narimanpour
    Photo: Article18

    On Christmas Eve of 2023, Esmaeil Narimanpour was apprehended by security forces. The Iranian follower of Jesus was charged with "acting against national security by communicating with Christian 'Zionist' organizations." As of April 30th, he was released on bail after spending more than four months in detention. For more details relating to his case, see these previously posted reports.