Hana Gholami Returns to Prison; Christian Citizen Transferred Back to Evin After Medical Leave Expires
Hana (Zahra) Gholami, an Iranian Christian citizen, returned to Evin Prison on Monday, June 29, 2026, to resume serving her two-year prison sentence after the expiration of her medical leave. She has been charged with security-related offenses and convicted for her participation in peaceful religious activities and presence at a house church; a case that has drawn attention from religious freedom and belief advocacy organizations as an example of how Christian citizens are treated in Iran.
According to a report by Article 18 organization, Hana Gholami, who had been on short-term medical leave since December of last year due to health conditions, was scheduled to return to prison following the expiration of this period. However, the timing of her return coinciding with the onset of military conflicts in the country delayed the execution of this process by several days, and she was ultimately transferred back to Evin Prison on Monday.
Hana Gholami’s case dates back to December 11, 2023, when security forces raided a religious gathering organized as a house church in Shahriar. Approximately 25 Christian citizens were present at the meeting, and officials confiscated the mobile phones and communication equipment of those present while subjecting them to interrogation. Following an inspection of the meeting location and searches of the homes of some participants, Hana Gholami, Hussein (Daniel) Mohammadi, and several others were arrested.
After nearly two months of detention in Evin Prison, Hana Gholami was temporarily released on a bail of two billion tomans. On June 3, 2024, the court panel convicted her on charges of “forming and membership in a group or association aimed at undermining national security” (a charge attributed to her activities in the house church) and sentenced her to two years in prison.
In the continuation of the legal proceedings, Hana Gholami and Hussein Mohammadi’s requests for reconsideration and appeals for retrial were rejected by Iran’s Supreme Court. The two were transferred to Qarchak Prison in Karaj on November 16, 2025, to serve their sentences, and subsequently, according to published reports, were transferred to Evin Prison to continue serving their sentences.
International organizations defending religious freedom, including Article 18, have repeatedly stated that Islamic Republic authorities pursue house church activities under charges related to national security; an issue that, according to these organizations, has led to the arrest and imprisonment of a number of Christian citizens. International reports have also documented this process and reported on the continued detention and conviction of Christians for their beliefs or religious activities.
Current reports from Christian human rights organizations indicate that dozens of Christian citizens in Iran are imprisoned for their religious beliefs or participation in peaceful religious activities.
