Five Christian converts have been sentenced to a combined total of more than 40 years in prison on “propaganda” charges related to their religious activities.

The five, only one of whom has been identified, were sentenced in July following their arrests in June last year but their cases have only now.

The Christians were sentenced to seven and a half years in prison each on the charge of “propaganda contrary to Islamic law due to connections with abroad” and an additional seven months each on the charge of “propaganda against the system.”

One of the Christians was given an additional 17 months for allegedly insulting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

It is understood that the charges against the Christians, which were brought under Articles 500 bis, 500, and 514 of the Islamic Penal Code, respectively, related to their participation in Christian training courses in Turkey, attendance of church meetings in their homes and online, and other online activities.

The only individual who has so far been identified is Hessamuddin Mohammad Junaidi, who is known as Yahya and whose sentencing to a total of eight years and one month in prison was announced by Iranian Christian website Mohabat News earlier this week.

The five Christians and at least two other converts were arrested at their homes and workplaces in the cities of Varamin and Pishva, just south of Tehran, in June 2025 and personal items including their Bibles were confiscated. They were then held in Evin Prison for between one and six months, before being released on bail equivalent to up to $30,000 each.

Article18 understands that at least one of the Christians was tortured physically, while several were pressured to sign statements renouncing their Christian faith in order to receive reductions in their sentences.