The family of an imprisoned Iranian Christian convert who was due for release prior to the war are concerned for her safety, having not heard from her since the conflict began nearly three weeks ago.

Simin Soheilinia, who will celebrate her 48th birthday on Saturday, is serving a 10-year sentence in Tehran’s Evin Prison on charges of “acting against national security by establishing and leading an illegal Christian house-church”.

Simin’s sentence was recently reduced to three years and six months, after which it was agreed that she could serve the remainder of her sentence outside prison, with an electronic tag. 

But then the conflict began, and all contact with Simin was lost, as has been the case for other prisoners of conscience.

Prior to the conflict, there were at least 48 Christians serving sentences in prisons in Iran on charges related to their religious beliefs or activities, including at least 16 in Evin Prison.

Conditions at prisons including Evin have reportedly worsened, with suggestions that guards have abandoned their posts and counter-terrorism forces have taken charge. Family visits and hospital appointments have also reportedly been cancelled, while prisoners have been denied medical care. Article18 also understands that in some facilities prisoners are being fed just one small, low-quality meal a day.

Who is Simin Soheilinia?

Simin has been in prison since September 2025, having been arrested on her return to Iran from Canada, where she had lived since fleeing her homeland in the wake of her sentencing in 2020. 

Simin reportedly decided to travel back home with her son after receiving news of the death of her father, as well as her mother’s terminal illness. 

Simin’s husband, who did not join her in Canada, had hoped her conviction may be quashed, but Simin was arrested on her return and sent first to Qarchak Women’s Prison, and then to Evin, once repairs had been made to the prison after it was hit by a missile during the 12-day war with Israel.

Simin was first arrested in January 2019 alongside three other Christian converts: Fatemeh Sharifi, Mehdi Rokhparvar and Yasser Akbari.

In October 2020, the Christians were sentenced to a combined 35 years in prison, and in January 2021 their appeals were rejected.

Simin’s sentence was reduced on retrial first to six years and then to three years and six months.

She is the latest of several examples of Iranian Christians arrested and imprisoned after returning home from another country in which they had either claimed asylum or resettled. 

Other recent cases include Laleh Saati, whose two-year prison sentence was based on “evidence” including photographs and videos of her Christian activities and baptism while seeking asylum in Malaysia, as well as Mehran Shamloui, Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh and Amir-Ali Minaei. 

This trend was highlighted in Article18’s 2026 annual report, ‘Scapegoats’, in which it was argued that “the possibility of arrest and prosecution for Christian activities overseas needs to be seriously taken into consideration by immigration authorities assessing the asylum claims”.