Five Christians sentenced to combined 50 years for Christmas prayers in Iran
Iranian Christians sentenced to imprisonment. Photo: Articleeighteen
On December 8, 2025, in Iran, five Christians were sentenced to a total of more than 50 years in prison for praying, participating in house worship services, and celebrating Christmas. This was reported by the Christian human rights organization Article18.
According to the organization, the convicted were found guilty not of criminal offenses, but of performing religious actions, including prayer, baptism, participation in communion, possession of Bibles, and celebrating Christian feasts. Article18 considers the sentence as another manifestation of systematic repression against Christians in the Islamic Republic.
Among the convicted are Iranian-Armenian pastor Joseph Shahbazian and convert to Christianity Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh, who had previously served prison terms for participating in house churches and were re-arrested in February last year. As part of the same case, Lida Shahbazian, Aida Najaflou, and another woman whose name has not been made public were also sentenced.
Four of the five Christians received ten-year prison sentences under the amended Article 500 of the Iranian Penal Code, which provides punishment for certain forms of religious activity. Two of them were additionally sentenced to five years for "conspiracy." Lida Shahbazian was sentenced to eight years in prison, and Aida Najaflou received an additional two-year term for "propaganda" on social media.
The sentences were handed down by notorious judge Abolqasem Salavati following a second court hearing on 21 October at the 15th Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, but only communicated to them verbally within the past two weeks. In addition to prison terms, the convicted had personal belongings confiscated, including Bibles and Christian literature. Article18 emphasizes that the case was accompanied by serious violations of judicial procedure and indicates a lack of freedom of religion for Christians in Iran.
Earlier, teh UOJ reported that French intelligence warned of an increase in Islamist attacks on Christians.
Read also
Greece signs memorandum on protection of Jerusalem Patriarchate's shrines
Next week, the Greek Parliament will ratify a document on the protection of the cultural heritage of the Jerusalem Patriarchate.
Greek bishop calls imposition of same-sex marriage a threat
Metropolitan Seraphim of Kythera urged families to become a “domestic church” amid threats to the Christian family in Greek laws and school curricula.
Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Budapest for opening of Orthodox center
The Ecumenical Patriarch has arrived in Hungary, where he will preside over the consecration of the Orthodox center "Phanarion."
OCU raiders stage attack on seized church in Kyiv, media
OCU "hierarch" Serhiy Horobtsov published a provocative post online regarding St. John's Church in Bykivnia seized by his people.