Large Increase in Christian Prison Sentences Last Year

Source: Article18 23 January 2025

People are gathered in a large church. — A church in Iran.
Photo: Wikimedia / Tasnim News Agency (cc)

According to a recently published report by Article18, at least 96 Christians were sentenced to prison in Iran during 2024 for a combined total of 263 years' imprisonment. This statistic indicates a sixfold increase from the previous year, in which 22 Christians were arrested for a combined total of 43.5 years.

While the report demonstrates a significant increase in the total number of Christians arrested annually, it also reveals a notable increase in the length of their prison terms. This informative report can be downloaded from Article Eighteen.

As the new year commences, the situation facing Iranian Christians has not improved. More than 40 followers of Jesus were arrested just this past December for participating in Christmas celebrations. Since the detained Christians have not yet received their prison sentences, this latest number of arrested believers was not included when calculating the statistics for 2024.

The recently occurring arrests took place while the members of Iran's judiciary were boasting that Christian prisoners had been given a five-day leave from prison over the Christmas season. However, this brief furlough was not permitted for those whose convictions related to "acting against national security" – a charge commonly imposed on the country's Christians. For more reports on the persecution of believers in Iran, go to our country profile.

Prayerfully remember the recently arrested believers, along with the many other Iranian Christians who are currently serving prison sentences because of their faith in Christ.
Pray that international leaders would call attention to the persecution of Christian converts in Iran and thus put pressure on the country's governing officials to enact positive changes.
In the midst of the government's attempts to suppress the Christian faith, praise God for the resilient advancements made by His church in Iran. May this continued growth in numbers also reflect the greater spiritual depth that's taking place within the lives of all those who have chosen to faithfully follow in the ways of Christ.

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

Christian Tortured During Pre-Trial Detention

Morteza Faghanpour-Saasi
Photo: Article18

In June 2024, five Christian converts in Iran were arrested because of their faith. More than a year later, on July 16th, these believers were convicted and sentenced to eight years in prison for allegedly promoting "propaganda." Little information is available about the five detained Christians, and only three of them have been identified thus far. The charges stem from their attendance at Biblical training courses in Türkiye, as well as their involvement with house churches and online Christian events in Iran.

Read more...
Retrial Denied for Imprisoned Believer

Mehran Shamloui
Photo: Article 18

Iran's Supreme Court has recently rejected the application for a retrial that was submitted on behalf of Mehran Shamloui, a Christian believer who is currently serving a ten-year prison sentence for his participation in house church activities. Recipients of previously published Persecution & Prayer Alert reports may recall that Mehran had fled to Türkiye in search of refuge. While there, the accused Iranian was apprehended and forced to return to Iran, where he had subsequently been arrested. (The initially posted report regarding Mehran's arrest may be reviewed here.)

Read more...
Over 50 Arrested Christians Accused of Espionage

A map of Iran, marking the arrests
of Christians since June 24, 2025.
(Click on the image for a larger view.)
Photo: Article18

Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) recently reported that over 50 Christians have been arrested since the end of the recent conflict between Iran and Israel in June 2025. The country's intelligence agency labelled the detained believers as "Mossad mercenaries," claiming that they had been trained by churches abroad and were now operating "under the guise of the Zionist Christian evangelization movement."

Read more...
Convicted Christian Deported and Arrested

Mehran Shamloui
Photo: Article 18

On March 8th, Mehran Shamloui was one of three Christians convicted in Iran for "propaganda" and membership in an alleged "opposition group." He was sentenced to more than ten years in prison. (For more details, see this report.)

Read more...