Christian Citizen Ghazal Marzban Beaten in Evin Prison; Concerns Over Treatment of Prisoners of Conscience
Ghazal Marzban, a Christian citizen imprisoned in Evin, was beaten by prison officers after protesting overcrowding and deteriorating conditions in the women’s ward, according to human rights sources, resulting in a broken hand. Despite confirmation by the prison physician of the urgent need for specialized medical treatment, she remains denied transfer to a hospital.
Reports from Evin Prison indicate that Ghazal Marzban, a Catholic Christian citizen serving her sentence in the facility, became the target of violent treatment by officers after protesting the increased population and poor conditions in the women’s ward, resulting in a fractured left hand.
According to released information, this protest followed the transfer of dozens of prisoners from Qarchak Prison to Evin’s women’s ward, intensifying overcrowding in this section. The prison physician, after examination, confirmed the hand fracture and recommended immediate hospital transfer, but as of the publication of this report, Marzban remains detained in prison and has been denied specialized medical treatment.
Ghazal Marzban previously went on a hunger strike for 11 days in protest of a severe sentence handed down against her. She rejected in particular the charge of “incitement and encouraging others to commit acts of violence and murder,” emphasizing that such an accusation contradicts her faith and beliefs as a Christian.
This Christian citizen was sentenced in Ordibehesht of this year by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, to nine years and eight months imprisonment. The charges against her include “propaganda against the system” and “gathering and conspiracy against national security”—charges that human rights organizations have repeatedly cited as tools for suppressing freedom of religion and belief in Iran.
Marzban, a law graduate, was arrested in December 2025 during a security forces raid on her residence. During this operation, a Bible and other materials related to her Christian faith were confiscated. After a period of interrogation at the Ministry of Intelligence detention facility, she was transferred to Evin Prison. She has a prior history of detention, imprisonment, and conviction to flogging due to activities related to her Christian faith.
International organizations defending religious freedom and human rights have repeatedly warned about Ghazal Marzban’s situation in recent months. Beyond criticizing the trial process and the severe sentence imposed on this Christian citizen, they have expressed concern about her deprivation of medical services and the consequences for her health.
Ghazal Marzban’s case has drawn the attention of human rights organizations at a time when, according to published reports, dozens of Christians in Iran are imprisoned solely because of their religious beliefs or peaceful religious activities—an issue that remains a major focus of criticism by international organizations regarding freedom of religion and belief in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
