Prayer is requested for Christian converts Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh and Aida Najaflou and Armenian-Iranian Joseph Shahbazian who are due to appear at the 15th Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran on 21 October, for a second hearing, charged with “gathering and collusion” and “propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran.” The charges relate to Christian activities such as praying, performing baptisms, taking Co mmunion and celebrating Christmas. The indictment also referred to the Bible as a “prohibited book.”
Aida, who was arrested in January 2025, faces two additional charges of “propaganda activity against the Islamic Republic of Iran in the cyberspace” and “propaganda in favour of groups or organisations opposed to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” based on her alleged support for the “Women, Life, Freedom” protests on social media and criticism of the former leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah.
Joseph and Nasser had previously served lengthy prison sentences related to their Christian activities but had been “pardoned” and released in 2023 and 2022 respectively. However, they were re-arrested in February and detained in Evin Prison. Mansour Borji of Article 18 points out that this case clearly demonstrates how the intelligence service seeks to bring fresh charges against individuals who were released against the service’s wishes.
The three Christians were charged in June, together with Joseph’s wife, Lida, and another woman whose name has been withheld (they are both on temporary release on bail). An initial court hearing took place on 6 September.
Prayer Points
Prayer is requested that:
- God will continue to strengthen and encourage these Christians as they face prosecution,
- The court will recognise the injustice of their arrest and imprisonment and order their release,
- The Iranian authorities will stop seeing normal Christian activities, such as meeting for prayer, as actions against national security that must be penalised.
