Photo: Article18
Five Iranian Christians were recently sentenced to a combined 55 years in prison. All of them have been imprisoned because of their Christian faith. Although the sentences were issued on October 21st, the believers only learned of them within the past two weeks.
Pastor Joseph Shahbazian had initially been sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in 2022, but was released one year later. Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh, who had been previously sentenced to 10 years in 2017, was suddenly pardoned in 2022. For unknown reasons, both of these men were rearrested in February and have since been sentenced to serve new 10-year prison terms. (For more details on these believers' rearrests, see this page.)
Aida Najaflou was also arrested in February. The 44-year-old Christian convert is presently suffering with various physical ailments after recently falling from an upper bunk in her prison cell, resulting in a spinal fracture. (Learn more.) Aida later had to be rehospitalized after a wound created by her spinal surgery became infected. Despite these health challenges, Aida has been transferred back to prison in order to serve her lengthy prison term. Altogether, she was sentenced to 17 years (based on three separate charges), the longest term among the five Christians.
Pastor Shahbazian's wife, Lida Alexani, who was arrested on April 12th, has since endured periods of solitary confinement. (Read more on her case.) Lida is now sentenced to eight years in prison. One additional Christian woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was recently convicted and sentenced to a 10-year term.
While addressing the announcement of these lengthy prison sentences, Article18's director, Mansour Borji, commented: "These examples demonstrate clearly how Iranian Christians like Joseph, Nasser, Aida, Lida and the fifth Christian are convicted for no other reason than their ordinary Christian activities – including wanting to share their beliefs with others, and provide them with the opportunity to read the Christian holy book."
Iran's government does not legally permit conversions from Islam and considers Christian evangelism to be "a threat to national security." Further reports addressing the challenges facing our Iranian family in Christ are available at VOMCanada.com/Iran.htm.
- Pray that these five believers will tangibly sense the Lord's comforting presence and sustaining strength as they await their release from imprisonment, hopefully before the full terms.
- Through the lives and witness of the country's detained Christians, may their guards and fellow prisoners respond to God's love and grace by receiving His gift of salvation.
- Pray for the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in Iran – whether it be through media outreaches, Bible distributions or other forms of evangelism – so that many more people will embrace the forgiveness and eternal hope that's only found in Jesus Christ.
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