Prayer is requested for Morteza (Calvin) Faghanpour Sasi, Abolfazl (Benjamin) Ahmadzadeh Khajani, Hesamuddin (Yahya) Mohammad Jenidi, and two other Christian converts whose sentences were upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeal on 17 September.
The five Christians and at least two other converts were arrested at their homes and workplaces in Varamin and Pishva, south of Tehran, in June 2024. Detained in Evin Prison for between one and six months, they were released on bail equivalent of up to $30,000 each. Article 18 reports that Morteza was tortured while in prison.
On 16 July, the 1st Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Varamin sentenced each of the five Christians to seven years and six months in prison for “educational and promotional activities deviating from and disrupting Islamic law, with connections to foreign countries,” and seven months in prison for “propaganda against the system.” Morteza was sentenced to an additional 17 months in prison for “insulting the leadership.”
The charges, under Articles 500, 500bis and 514 of the Islamic Penal Code, related to their participation in Christian training courses in Türkiye, attendance at house-church meetings, participation in online meetings, and other online activities.
Please pray that these Christians and their families will be strengthened and encouraged in the Lord, and that the Iranian authorities will stop criminalising normal Christian activities.
