“Lida Alkani,” Armenian-born Christian Citizen, Facing Enforcement of Eight-Year Prison Sentence
Lida Alkani, an Armenian-born Christian citizen and wife of Joseph Shahbazian, has been summoned to serve an eight-year prison sentence, a case that once again highlights the gap between the Islamic Republic’s claims regarding respect for religious minorities’ rights and its judicial treatment of Christians for peaceful religious activities.
According to a report by Article 18 Organization, judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic on Thursday, October 8, corresponding to Mehr 16, gave Lida Alkani only three days’ notice through a summons to report to prison to serve her eight-year sentence. She is the wife of Joseph Shahbazian, a Christian citizen imprisoned in Evin, who has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Lida Alkani was arrested on April 13, 2025, during a raid by Ministry of Intelligence agents on the couple’s home. After approximately one month in custody, she was temporarily released by posting a heavy bail of four billion tomans. The arrest occurred only two days before her husband’s mother’s funeral service, imposing double emotional stress on a family already grieving and dealing with Joseph Shahbazian’s imprisonment.
Armenian Christians are recognized in the Islamic Republic’s constitution as one of the officially recognized religious minorities. Article 13 of the constitution recognizes the right to perform religious rites for Christians; however, the case of Lida Alkani and her husband raises serious questions about the practical limits of these rights and the government’s treatment of Christian activities.
Alkani has faced charges including “propagating heretical teachings contrary to the sacred religion of Islam” and “assembly and conspiracy.” Article 18 Organization states that the activities cited in these citizens’ case files, including prayer meetings, baptism, communion services, and Christian gatherings, were of a religious and peaceful nature.
Alkani’s case is part of a wave of harsh sentences against Christians in Iran. According to Article 18 Organization’s report, five Christian citizens, including Lida Alkani, Joseph Shahbazian, Naser Noor Delgolapeh, Aida Najafloo, and another Christian citizen, collectively face 48 years of enforceable prison sentences. The sentences of these individuals have been upheld even upon appeal.
The Islamic Republic has repeatedly emphasized its recognition of Armenians and Assyrians and their enjoyment of religious rights; however, the convictions of Lida Alkani and Joseph Shahbazian demonstrate that this legal recognition does not necessarily prevent judicial prosecution of Christian citizens for their religious activities.
Reports of pressure on historic churches and restrictions imposed on Christian congregations have further heightened concerns about freedom of religion and the right to worship in Iran. In another instance, Hakop Gochomian, an Armenian citizen, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and according to published reports, possession of copies of the Persian Bible was also among matters raised in his case file.
The summons of Lida Alkani to serve her eight-year prison sentence raises a fundamental question that extends beyond one family’s fate: if the freedom to perform religious rites for Christian minorities is recognized in law, why can peaceful religious activities lead to lengthy prison sentences?
The right to freedom of religion and conscience is a fundamental human right and is not dependent on ethnicity, language, or the official status of a minority. The Alkani case once again highlights the necessity for authorities of the Islamic Republic to account for their respect of this right and to ensure fair legal proceedings for Christian citizens.
