Release of Christian Citizen ‘Aida Najafloo’ on Heavy Bail Following Months of Detention

Christian citizen Aida Najafloo was temporarily released on bail of 10 billion tomans, despite facing a sentence of 10 years of discretionary imprisonment and concerning physical health conditions.

Aida Najafloo, an imprisoned Christian citizen, was temporarily released after months of detention and imprisonment in Evin Prison following the posting of substantial bail. This news comes at a time when her case continues to be a prominent example of security and judicial pressures on Christian citizens in Iran, monitored by human rights organizations.

According to human rights activists in Iran, Aida Najafloo was released from Evin Prison on Sunday. Saeida Hoseinzadeh, the defense lawyer for this Christian citizen, confirmed the news, stating that her client’s release was made possible by posting bail in the amount of 10 billion tomans.

The lawyer also clarified that the sentence issued for Ms. Najafloo is 10 years of discretionary imprisonment, a verdict that has intensified serious concerns about her judicial future and the situation of other Christian citizens in Iran.

Aida Najafloo’s case was heard in Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court under the presiding judge Abolqasem Salavati. Court sessions were held on June 5 and October 20, during which she, along with several other Christian citizens, defended herself against charges such as “propaganda against the regime” and “actions against national security,” accusations frequently leveled against Christian citizens.

The indictment in this case was issued on June 20, 2025, by the Evin Prosecutor’s Office. In the final prosecution statement, activities such as “founding and leading a house church,” “holding home meetings of evangelical Christianity,” and “conducting religious ceremonies such as baptism and communion” were cited as examples of the mentioned charges; activities that the Christian community views as an inseparable part of freedom of faith and worship.

Previously, an informed source close to Aida Najafloo’s family described her particular circumstances: “Aida is a mother of two children, one of whom has been ill, and in her absence, the family has faced serious difficulties in caring for the child. Before her arrest, she underwent spinal disc surgery and, due to spinal column problems, requires continuous medical care. The lack of necessary medical attention in prison has exacerbated pain and damage to her vertebral region and spinal column.”

Based on these reports, Aida Najafloo was transferred on April 14 of this year from the detention facility of the Ministry of Intelligence, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison, to the women’s ward. Her arrest took place in mid-February of the previous year by security forces.

This Christian citizen’s case can be examined within the broader context of pressure on religious minorities in Iran. Based on data compiled by the Statistical Center and Publications of the Human Rights Activists collection in Iran, approximately 11 percent of religious minority rights violations over the past decade have involved Christian citizens. This proportion alone represented over 9 percent of all reported cases in 2024, statistics indicating the continuation of security measures against Christian citizens in Iran.

Although Aida Najafloo’s temporary release has reunited her family once again, the issuance of a severe sentence and the continuation of judicial proceedings have placed an uncertain future before her and other Christian citizens, a future that continues to capture the attention of human rights activists and the global Christian community.