Temporary release of the "Motahari" sisters, Iranian Christian citizens in the United States

The "Matahari" sisters, Iranian Christian citizens in the United States, have been temporarily released, but concerns about their fate and that of other Christian refugees if they are deported to Iran continue.

Two Iranian Christian sisters were detained by U.S. immigration officials last month for what they called “illegal immigration.” After about a month in detention, they were temporarily released. The release of the two asylum seekers comes as their asylum cases are still pending and the future of their stay in the United States is still uncertain.

Mahan Motahari, 38, and Mejan Motahari, 31, entered the United States in 2022 and formally filed for asylum, but were arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in the U.S. Virgin Islands in December 2025. Their arrest sparked a wave of concern among church activists and refugee rights advocates.

Finally, a federal judge granted their defense attorneys' request for temporary release on January 16. According to the Episcopal News Service (ENS), Mejan was released from custody the day after the court ruling and Mahan about a week later to pursue their legal case outside of custody.

The sisters' lawyer, Parastu Zahedi, has denied the accusation of illegal residence and insists that her clients have applied for asylum in accordance with U.S. law. He said that under current procedures, asylum seekers whose cases are under review should not be detained or subject to immediate deportation.

Mahan and Mejan Motahari are active members of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Virginia. Members of the church played a prominent role in supporting the sisters during their detention, attending court hearings, organizing support rallies, and garnering public attention. After their release, the church’s pastor, Fran Gardner-Smith, said the sisters “did nothing wrong” and called their detention an example of the unfair treatment of asylum seekers.

The arrest of the two Iranian asylum seekers came as part of a crackdown on immigrants and refugees (including Iranian citizens) that has been implemented in recent years, particularly during the Trump administration. In initial statements, the US Border Patrol harshly described the sisters as “illegal aliens” and announced that they would be deported, prompting a sharp reaction from defense attorneys and church organizations.

The case of Mahan and Mojan Motahari is just one example of the troubling situation for Iranian Christian asylum seekers in the United States. In recent years, there have been numerous reports of arrests, long-term detentions, and even deportations of Iranian Christians, many of whom have previously faced threats, arrests, and harsh sentences in Iran for converting.

Human rights activists and church leaders have warned that deporting Christian refugees to Iran, especially in the current climate, could have irreparable consequences. Iran remains one of the countries where religious freedom is severely restricted, and Christian citizens are at risk of arrest, torture, long prison sentences, and even death threats.

According to observers, returning such people not only violates international obligations towards refugees, but could also directly expose them to the risk of death.

For now, the release of Mahan and Mojan Motahari is only considered a temporary measure, and the final outcome of their asylum case is still unknown. However, supporters of the sisters have expressed hope that US immigration courts will uphold their right to asylum, considering the real risks of returning to Iran, especially the current situation in Iran.