Case Studies

Yasser Akbari

Yasser Akbari

Mehdi Akbari, who is known as Yasser, was given a 10-year prison sentence in October 2020 for “acting against national security by forming a house-church”. He was released from prison in September 2024 after his sentence was reduced to four years and five months.

Hakop Gochumyan

Hakop Gochumyan

Armenian citizen Hakop Gochumyan is serving a 10-year prison sentence in Evin Prison for “engaging in deviant proselytising activity that contradicts the sacred law of Islam” through alleged membership and leadership of “a network of evangelical Christianity”.

Christian convert released after nearly five years in prison

Christian convert released after nearly five years in prison

A Christian convert whose only son died during his nearly five years in Evin Prison has been released after his […]

Iranian-Armenian pastor acquitted, released from 10-year prison sentence

Iranian-Armenian pastor acquitted, released from 10-year prison sentence

A 62-year-old Iranian-Armenian pastor serving a 10-year prison sentence for leading a house-church has been acquitted and released after just […]

‘No-one imprisoned for beliefs’ one of Iran’s ‘1000s of lies’ – Anoosheh Ashoori

‘No-one imprisoned for beliefs’ one of Iran’s ‘1000s of lies’ – Anoosheh Ashoori

A British-Iranian who spent over four years in Tehran’s Evin Prison says claims by Islamic Republic officials that “no-one is imprisoned in Iran because of their beliefs” are “among the 1000s of lies they have said”.

Article18 submits joint report ahead of Iran’s next UN review

Article18 submits joint report ahead of Iran’s next UN review

Article18 has submitted a joint report to the UN Human Rights Council ahead of Iran’s upcoming Universal Periodic Review, highlighting […]

Armenian Christian given 10-year sentence ‘on judge’s intuition’

Armenian Christian given 10-year sentence ‘on judge’s intuition’

An Armenian Christian has been condemned to 10 years in prison in Iran despite his lawyer arguing that the case […]

Armenian faces court hearing on charges of ‘promoting Christianity’

Armenian faces court hearing on charges of ‘promoting Christianity’

An Armenian Christian who remains in Evin Prison nearly five months after his arrest faces a first court hearing this […]

Islamic Republic delegation quizzed by UN experts on compliance with international law

Islamic Republic delegation quizzed by UN experts on compliance with international law

Iran’s violations of the rights of religious minorities, including Christians, was one of the issues raised by a panel of […]

Iranian-Armenian pastor begins 10-year sentence for his ‘disturbing’ teachings

Iranian-Armenian pastor begins 10-year sentence for his ‘disturbing’ teachings

As Iran’s president was flying to New York this morning, an Iranian-Armenian pastor was handing himself in to prison in […]