Featured

Laleh Saati Receives Conditional Release

Article18, Human Rights in Iran, Church in Chains
A smiling Laleh is outside, and the sun is shining on her face. A tree is in the background.
Laleh Saati
Photo: Article18

Laleh Saati is a Christian convert and former asylum-seeker who was incarcerated in February 2024 and sentenced to two years in prison. (For more information on the imprisonment of this 46-year-old Iranian follower of Jesus, visit this page.) Throughout Laleh's time in custody, concerns have been raised about her physical health and psychological well-being. Most recently, it was reported that the Christian woman was denied needed medical treatment for a hand injury that had occurred as a result of a fall.

Featured

Letter From Imprisoned Christian Reveals Abusive Treatment

Christian Solidarity Worldwide, International Christian Concern, Article18
Hakop Gochumyan is sitting on a couch.
Hakop Gochumyan
Photo: Article18

Hakop Gochumyan and his wife Elisa are citizens of Armenia who were visiting Iran in August 2023. While this Christian couple were having dinner with friends, government agents raided the gathering, resulting in their arrest. Eventually, Elisa was released on bail and permitted to return to Armenia with their children. However, Hakop was convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison for allegedly "engaging in deviant proselytizing activity." For more details, see our previously posted report.

Featured

Detained Pastor's Wife in Solitary Confinement

Article18, The Christian Post
Lida Alexani is smiling.
Lida Alexani
Photo: Article18

In 2022, Pastor Joseph Shahbazian was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for his Christian ministry work in Iran. After an appeal, he was released a year later. For unknown reasons, however, he was suddenly rearrested on February 6th of this year, and now reportedly faces numerous charges. For more details, see this report.

Featured

Appeal Denied for Three Christian Converts

Article18
Abbas, Narges, and Mehran
Left to right: Abbas Soori,
Narges Nasri, and Mehran Shamloui.
Photos: Article 18

On March 8th, three Christian converts in Iran, including a woman pregnant with her first child, were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for participating in activities relating to their religious beliefs. (More details about the charges against these believers are available at VOMC's previously published report.)

Featured

Imprisoned Pastor Suffers Stroke

Article18, HRANA, VOM-USA
Pastor Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh is in a suit and seated on a sofa.
Pastor Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh
Photo: Article 18

In 2017, Pastor Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh was sentenced to ten years in prison for his Christian ministry activities. Though pardoned and released in 2022, the pastor was suddenly rearrested on February 6th of this year. (Read more.)