Morteza Faghanpour-Saasi (38) has recently reported to Evin prison in the northern part of Iran's capital Tehran to begin serving her nine and a half year sentence. This is according to Danish European Mission's partner Middle East Concern.
Morteza was arrested on June 12, 2024 at his workplace after security forces searched his home and confiscated Bibles, his cell phone and pictures with Christian motifs. This is according to Article18.
Five Christians, including Morteza, were each sentenced to seven and a half years in prison by the Varamin Revolutionary Court for “propaganda activity in violation of Islamic law due to connections abroad,” and an additional seven months in prison for “propaganda against the system.” Morteza also received an additional seventeen-month sentence for allegedly insulting Iran's Supreme Leader on social media.
Arrested in the middle of Christmas peace
Zahra (Hannah) Gholami (35) and Hossein (Daniel) Mohammadi (66) have also started serving prison sentences. They responded to a summons to begin serving two-year prison sentences and reported to security authorities on November 16.
They were arrested on December 11, 2024 when Iranian security forces stormed a Christian gathering in Shahriar, where around 25 men, women and children had gathered to pray, worship and plan this year's Christmas celebrations.
Following a trial at the Shahriar Revolutionary Court in July, Hannah, Daniel and an Afghan convert, Teymur Hosseini (45), known as “Kourosh,” were convicted on charges of “creation” and “membership” of a “group or association with the purpose of disrupting national security.” They all received a two-year prison sentence.
Another convert was sentenced to one year in prison for “complicity” in the others“ ”crimes." It is not yet known if Kourosh and the other convert have also started serving their sentences.
Pray with us
- We encourage you to pray that God will encourage these Christians and their families, that they will adjust to prison life, develop good relationships with other inmates, have the opportunity to witness, and maintain good physical and emotional health.
- Pray also for the Iranian authorities to end the criminalization of normal Christian activities and that these and other Christians in prison will be granted early release.
