MARK ALLEN

A Christian convert in Iran is sentenced to prison. Nayereh Arjaneh began her five-year prison term on 23 December. She was charged with “promoting deviant propaganda and teachings contrary to Islamic law.” The Revolutionary Court in Garmsar also assessed a fine of 165 million tomans (around C$ 5,432), two years’ internal exile in Kouhbanan in Kerman province, and a two-year travel ban. She was sentenced to two separate five-year sentences, but they will be served concurrently (at the same time,) and not back-to-back.

Arjaneh was arrested 7 July, 2025, along with her husband, Qasem Esmaili. The couple was taken into custody shortly after returning from a Christian training event in Turkey. Such travel and religious activity often draw the attention of Iranian security forces, especially when Muslims convert to Christianity.

“Christian converts in Iran face systematic persecution, including arbitrary arrests, lengthy prison sentences, and vague national security charges. Iranian authorities consider conversion from Islam illegal and routinely target converts for peaceful religious activities,” said the Center for Human Rights in Iran in a Facebook post about the sentencing .

Esmai­li was also sentenced, receiving three years and six months in prison. However, his imprisonment has been postponed for now because he is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer.

Under Iranian law, trying to spread any religion other than Islam can lead to a prison sentence of up to 10 years. The law is also commonly applied in a way that bars Muslim citizens from leaving Islam or adopting another faith.