Christians
5 Christians sentenced to combined 50 years in Iranian prison: advocacy orgs
Christianpost (22.12.2025) – Five Iranian Christians have been sentenced to a combined 50 years in prison for religious activities, including prayer, baptism and distributing Bibles, according to watchdog organizations.
All five, including two previously imprisoned men and three women, were convicted by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court under amended articles of Iran’s penal code, according to Article 18, a United Kingdom-based organization that monitors religious freedom in Iran.
US ‘strongly condemns’ sentencing of Iranian Christians to 50 years’ imprisonment
Article18 (15.12.2025) – The US State Department has denounced the sentencing of five Iranian Christians to a combined over 50 years in prison.
In a post on its Persian-language social media platforms on Thursday, the State Department said it “strongly condemns” Iran’s “repression of religious minorities”, adding that “no one should be imprisoned for their beliefs – be they a Christian like Aida Najaflou, Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh, Joseph and Lida Shahbazian … or a Baha’i, Kurd, Sunni Muslim or any other minority”.
Evin Prison named among facilities where religious prisoners mistreated
Article 18 (08.12.2026) The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has included Tehran’s Evin Prison among five featured detention centres in a new factsheet about the mistreatment of religious prisoners of conscience.
The factsheet, published on 4 December, notes that the majority of Christians imprisoned in Iran today are held in the notorious facility.
“Former Christian prisoners [of Evin] report prison guards making harassing comments about their religion during interrogations,” it states. “Others have been pressured to ‘confess’ to participation in religious activities.”
Christmas cancelled again at famous Armenian church
Article 18 (02.12.2025) – A famous Armenian church in Isfahan has again cancelled its popular Christmas celebrations due to purported “restoration work”.
Christmas decorations and a fireworks display on New Year’s Eve are an annual tradition at the Vank Church, drawing huge crowds.
But in a statement on its official website on Saturday, the church announced that “no special ceremonies or decorations” would be held this year, nor “touristic provisions”, due to works purportedly related to the church’s hopes of official recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Baha’is
Iran jails eight Baha’i women on charges of promoting their beliefs
Iran Press Watch (28.12.2025) – Eight Baha’i women were arrested on Saturday morning after reporting to the Isfahan Office for the Enforcement of Sentences and were transferred to a local prison to begin serving their prison terms, Iran International has learned.
The Baha’i women have been charged with “propaganda against the Islamic Republic,” “promoting Baha’i beliefs,” and “cooperating with hostile groups.”
Their case has been designated as “security-related and confidential,” sources told Iran International.
They have been identified as Yeganeh Rouhbakhsh, Arezou Sobhaniyan, Shana Shoqifar, Neda Emadi, Neda Badakhsh, Mojgan Shahrezaei, Parastoo Hakim, and Negin Khademi.
Six Baha’i women arrested and sent to prison in Iran
Iran Press Watch (19.12.2025) – Six Baha’i women were arrested and transferred to prison to begin serving sentences totaling nearly 39 years.
The women – Neda Mohebi, Farideh Ayoubi, Zarrindokht Ahadzadeh, Zhaleh Rezaei, Atefeh Zahedi, and Noora Ayoubi – were taken into custody after being summoned to the enforcement office of a court in Hamedan.
Branch 2 of the Hamedan Revolutionary Court sentenced Mohebi to seven years and eight months in prison and the other five women to six years and three months each.
The court suspended three years of Mohebi’s sentence and two years each for Ahadzadeh, Rezaei, and Ayoubi, the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reported.
The women were convicted of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic” and “organizing illegal Baha’i classes and groups.”
They were previously arrested on November 7, 2023, and released on bail in December 2023 pending trial.
Elham Kholas Ardastani, a Bahá’í citizen, summoned and interrogated by the Baharestan intelligence office
Iran Press Watch (19.12.2025) – Yesterday, Elham Kholas Ardastani, a Bahá’í citizen residing in Baharestan and the wife of Navid Tashakor, a Bahá’í citizen currently imprisoned in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, was summoned by telephone to the Intelligence Office of Baharestan County and interrogated.
According to HRANA News Agency, the media outlet of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI), Elham Kholas Ardastani was summoned to the Baharestan Intelligence Office.
On Wednesday, 17 December, Elham Kholas Ardastani was summoned by telephone to the Intelligence Office of Baharestan County. Security agents stated that the reason for her summons was to provide explanations regarding her husband, Navid Tashakor, who is currently being held in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.
Request to serve prison sentences with electronic ankle monitors denied for six Bahá’ís
Iran Press Watch (19.12.2025) – The request submitted by Neda Mohabi, Atefeh Zahedi, Farideh Ayubi, Noora Ayubi, Zarrindokht Ahadzadeh, and Zhaleh Rezaei—six Bahá’í women imprisoned in Hamedan Prison—to serve their sentences under electronic ankle-monitor supervision has been rejected by the provincial appeals court.
According to HRANA News Agency, the media outlet of the Human Rights Activists in Iran (HRAI), the appeals court of Hamedan Province has denied the request by six imprisoned Bahá’í women to benefit from electronic ankle monitoring.
Shahram Fallah, a Baha’i citizen, sentenced to imprisonment and exile
Iran Press Watch (10.12.2025) – Shahram Fallah, a Baha’i citizen imprisoned in Kerman Prison, has been sentenced by the Kerman Province Court of Appeals to nine years, six months, and one day in prison, as well as one year of exile to Birjand County.
This verdict was recently issued in absentia by the Kerman Province Court of Appeals on charges of “deviant educational and promotional activities contrary to Islamic law through unfounded and false claims in religious matters, with organizational connections abroad,” as well as forming a group aimed at disrupting national security.
Weaponizing justice system to persecute Bahá’ís
BIC (10.12.2025) – Authorities are escalating their repression of Bahá’ís, with a recent series of harsh prison sentences and asset confiscations, the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) and Human Rights Watch said today. Iran’s judiciary has been leading the persecution of Bahá’ís, amid increasing public incitement to discrimination by state officials, hate propaganda, and disinformation targeting the religious minority community.
Shahram Tahzib, a Baha’i citizen in Gonbad-e Kavus, arrested
Iran Press Watch (10.12.2025) – Yesterday, December 3, Shahram Tahzib, a Baha’i citizen residing in Gonbad-e Kavus, was arrested by security forces in the city and taken to an undisclosed location. At the same time, his home was searched by agents.
Based on information received by HRANA, Mr. Tahzib was arrested on Wednesday, December 3, by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence at his family home. The agents also searched the residence and confiscated books related to the Baha’i faith.
Kambiz Teimouri-Moghaddam, a Baha’i citizen, arrested
Iran Press Watch (10.12.2025) – Kambiz Teimouri-Moghaddam, a Baha’i citizen residing in Gorgan, has been arrested by security forces. Officers searched his home and confiscated several personal belongings. His place of business has also been sealed.
Based on information received by HRANA, the arrest of this Baha’i citizen took place yesterday morning at Mr. Teimouri-Moghaddam’s residence. During the search, agents confiscated a number of his personal items, including electronic devices, books, and documents, and they also sealed his business. The arrest occurred despite the fact that Mr. Teimouri-Moghaddam suffers from high blood pressure and requires medical care, which has heightened the concerns of his family and those close to him.
