Violation of religious freedom, continued government persecution of Christians in Iran

From Evin Prison to the Revolutionary Court, a new narrative of the violation of religious freedom and the court investigation of three other Christian citizens.

While the Islamic Republic emphasizes “freedom of religion” in its official propaganda, new evidence shows that pressure and persecution against Christian citizens continue. The second hearing of the trial of Aida Najaflo, Joseph Shahbazian, and Nasser Navord Goltepe, three Christian citizens who have been imprisoned in Evin Prison for more than eight months, will be held in late October.

The first court session was held on September 5, 1404, presided over by Judge Salavati, in Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. The session lasted more than three hours and the three defendants were transferred from Evin Prison to the court. They defended themselves against charges such as “propaganda against the system” and “actions against national security.” According to sources close to the case, these accusations have been repeated against Christians for years without providing any credible evidence.

In the indictment issued by the Evin Prosecutor's Office, five Christian citizens, including Lida Aleksani, are also accused. The final verdict mentions "establishing and leading a house church," "conducting Christian missionary meetings," and performing religious rituals such as "baptism and communion," as examples of the crime, which clearly indicates the ongoing violation of religious freedom in the country.

The court is presided over by Judge Salavati, who has been sanctioned by the European Union and the United States for issuing harsh sentences against civil society activists and Christian citizens. Despite the government’s claim of religious freedom for religious minorities, Joseph Shahbazian (an Armenian citizen) is on trial again, despite officials repeatedly saying that Armenians are free to practice their Christian faith.

Aida Najaflo, a mother of two, is one of the detainees. After 65 days in prison in Ward 209 of the Ministry of Intelligence, she was transferred to the Evin Women’s Ward. A source close to her family reported: “Aida Najaflo is a mother of two children, one of whom is ill. The absence of her mother has created serious problems in caring for this child. The lack of medical care in prison has also exacerbated the pain and damage to her vertebrae and back.” This situation is reminiscent of the discriminatory treatment that has been repeated against Christians in security detention centers for years.

Naser Noord Goltepe, another defendant in the case, has gone on a hunger strike to protest the continued detentions for his beliefs. Informed sources have reported that after 35 days of hunger strike in Evin Prison, he suffered a suspected stroke and was rushed to the hospital. His arrest was carried out without a court order and security forces raided his home in Parand.

Joseph Shahbazian, who is still in Evin Prison, was also denied access to his mother’s funeral on April 15. His mother’s funeral was held in Tehran, but the Christian citizen’s request for temporary leave was denied. This exclusion, according to human rights observers, is another example of “inhumane treatment and violation of the right to personal dignity.”

Shahbazian’s wife, Lida Aleksani, was released on bail of four billion tomans in May of this year. A raid by intelligence agents on the couple’s home led to her re-arrest. This comes amid reports of harsh sentences being handed down to Christian citizens in recent weeks, including the sentencing of five other Christians to a total of more than 40 years in prison for their religious beliefs and activities.

The cases of Najaflo, Shahbazian, and Nord Goltepe are just one example of the Iranian government’s ongoing treatment of Christians, a treatment that appears to be judicial in nature, but in practice is indicative of a systematic approach to restricting religious freedom. The continued detentions for religious reasons, the use of security charges, and even the criminalization of Christian rituals, all confirm the fact that religious freedom in Iran is not a guaranteed right, but an unsupported slogan.