An appeal court in Iran’s capital Tehran has rejected the appeals of five Christian converts from Islam and confirmed their prison sentences for “propaganda” charges concerning church activities.
Hessamuddin Mohammad Junaidi, Abolfazl Ahmadzadeh-Khajani, Morteza Faghanpour-Saasi and two others who were not identified were sentenced in July. The convictions of all five believers were upheld on 30 September by the 36th Branch of the Tehran Appeal Court.
The five converts were arrested, along with at least two others, at their homes and workplaces in the cities of Varamin and Pishva, some 50 miles south of Tehran, in June 2024. They were subsequently detained at Evin Prison, Tehran for periods ranging between one and six months.
Left to right: Morteza Faghanpour-Saasi, Hessamuddin Mohammad Junaidi and Abolfazl Ahmadzadeh-Khajani [Image credit: Mohabat News]
Pressure was exerted on the Christians to renounce their faith in exchange for having their sentences reduced. One of the believers – Morteza – experienced physical torture.
They were released on bail of up to £25,000 ($30,000; €27,500) each. On 15 July 2025, however, they were sentenced at the 1st Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Varamin.
Each of the Christians was given a sentence of seven and a half years in prison for “propaganda activity contrary to Islamic law due to overseas connections” and seven months for “propaganda against the system”.
Morteza received an additional 17-month prison term for alleged insults directed at Iran’s Supreme Leader on social media.
All five Christians are scheduled to be summoned to a civil court in October to answer charges of “insulting Islamic sanctities”. The charges relate to attendance of a Zoom meeting during which a Christian leader living abroad is alleged to made remarks deemed to be critical of Islamic beliefs.
The rejection of the Christians’ appeals follows weeks after the Supreme Court of Iran refused a retrial request lodged by Mehran Shamloui, a Christian convert from Islam who received a 10-year prison sentence for his membership of a “house church”.
Farsi (Persian)-speaking Christians, as converts from Islam, are hated as apostates and viewed as a threat to Iran’s national security.
How you can pray
Pray that all five Christians will know strong encouragement and faith in God’s purposes as they begin their harsh sentences. Ask the Lord to reveal assurance of the reality of His victory and justice, even if these truths seem hidden from physical sight. Pray that He will strengthen the faith of all Christians in Iran, whether serving sentences in prison or seeking to manage harsh restrictions to build His kingdom across this vast country.
