Iranian Christians are pleased that Mina Khajavi (61) was released from Evin Prison on 20 October after completing a two-year prison sentence for leading a house church.
Mina was arrested in June 2020 at a house-church meeting, along with Iranian-Armenian pastor Joseph Shahbazian, and several other Christian converts. They were later charged with “acting against national security through promoting Zionist Christianity” whether through leadership or membership of a house-church.
In June 2022, Mina and fellow convert Malihe Nazari were each sentenced to six-years in prison and pastor Joseph Shahbazian was given a ten-year prison sentence. Four other Christian converts were also sentenced to between one and four years’ imprisonment, but permitted to pay fines (equivalent to between $800-$1,250 each) instead of going to prison.
Malihe and Joseph began serving their sentences in August 2022 and were granted early release in April and September 2023, respectively. Mina’s summons to serve her prison sentence was delayed after she was hit by a car and needed treatment for a broken ankle.
Mina started serving her prison sentence in January 2024. Continuing to suffer pain from her damaged ankle, she was denied adequate medical care.
Early in 2025, Mina’s prison sentence was reduced from six to two years, leading to her release on Monday with previous time spent in detention being taken into consideration.
Mina has expressed her thankfulness for prayer on her behalf while she was in detention.
We are thankful for Mina’s release, but please continue to pray for healing of her ankle and God’s encouragement and guidance. Please also remember to pray for Joseph Shabazian who was re-arrested in January 2025 and is being prosecuted along with his wife, Lida, and three other Christians on charges of “gathering and collusion” and “propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
