Iran: 12 Christians Face Long Prison Terms for Their Faith, Three Tortured
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Twelve Christian converts in Iran are facing the possibility of torture and lengthy prison terms after being charged with “propagating a religion contrary to Islam” and “collaborating with foreign governments,” Article 18 reports.
Ruled by a harsh Islamic regime, Iran ranks 9 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
The 12 Christians were charged under Article 500 of Iran’s penal code and appeared before Branch 102 of the Criminal Court of Nowshahr on November 26 and have been released on bail.
“They have identified themselves as Christian during their defense,” Prosecutor Mohammad Reza-Ebrahimi wrote in the indictment. “And this is supported by the messages exchanged in their phones,” as well as through the “Gospels and other Christian literature found in their possession.”
Three of the Christians, Jahangir Alikhani, Hamed Malamiri, and Gholam Eshaghi, were re-arrested by IRGC agents in September and were tortured by officials who demanded they renounce their faith. These three men were detained for two months before their release on bail on November 17, Article 18 reports.
In a website report about the situation facing Christian converts in Iran, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization states: “Conversion from Islam to Christianity is illegal in Iran, and anyone caught as a convert can be arrested and imprisoned. The government views conversion as an attempt by the West to undermine Islam and the Islamic government of Iran. This means that anyone who is discovered to be a member of a house church can be charged with a crime against national security, which can lead to long prison sentences.”
“Anyone arrested or detained can be tortured and abused while in jail. Some Christians are released and monitored—and know a second arrest would mean a long prison sentence,” Open Doors states.
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