Armenian citizen Hakob Gochumyan sentenced to ten years in prison

Hakob Gochumyan, an Armenian citizen who has been imprisoned in Evin Prison since last year, was sentenced to ten years in prison.

Hakob Gochumian, a 35-year-old Armenian citizen, traveled to Iran with his wife last summer when they were arrested by security forces and Hakob has been in detention ever since.

He was sentenced to prison on March 5, 2018, by Judge Iman Afshari in Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. According to the Article 18 organization, he has now been sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of “conducting deviant educational and missionary activities contrary to the holy law of Islam through membership in and directing a Christian missionary network in the country.” Other charges against this Christian citizen include having seven Persian Bibles at home, and twice visiting Christian homes and Armenian-speaking churches.

The accusation against him of attending an Armenian-speaking church comes while Armenian-speaking churches are allowed to operate and attending them and participating in ceremonies is not considered a crime, but the Revolutionary Court has also considered Mr. Hakop's attendance at an official Armenian-speaking church or as a guest in the homes of Christians a crime.

Judicial authorities have also arrested several Christians and have issued a ruling merging Hakop Gochomian's case with theirs, charging all ten citizens with the same charges. Judge Afshari has previously sentenced many Christians to prison terms for their religious beliefs and peaceful religious activities.

The defendants in this case have now been sentenced to a total of 42 years in prison, a fine of 500 million Tomans, deprivation of fifth-degree social rights, and significant confiscation of their property. According to reports published by Article 18, additional penalties have been added for five of these citizens, including a ban on leaving the country, a ban on membership in political and social groups, and a ban on residing in Tehran province and neighboring provinces for two years.

According to a source close to Mr. Hakop, the judge of Branch 36 of the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeals, rejected the appeal and legal defenses of Mr. Gochoumian's lawyer, without providing sufficient reasons, and confirmed the verdict of the lower court in June of this year.

It should be noted that Mr. Hakop was unable to properly understand the charges and respond to them due to his lack of familiarity with the Persian language and lack of access to a translator. His statement that he brought the Bible as a gift to Armenian friends at their request because it is their official book and is not prohibited was also not accepted by the court.