A Christian convert and former prisoner of conscience has reportedly been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison.

According to the Persian-language Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Ghazal Marzban, who is a Catholic, has been sentenced to nine years and eight months on charges including “propaganda against the state” and “gathering and collusion against national security”.

The sentence was handed down by notorious Revolutionary Court judge Iman Afshari, who was recently sanctioned by the EU and has been behind the harsh sentencing of many political prisoners, including Christians.

Ghazal, who spent two months in Evin Prison in 2024 after being convicted of “propaganda against the regime by chanting slogans”, was rearrested in January at home in Tehran.

Ghazal’s Bible and other Christian literature were confiscated, before Ghazal was taken away to an unknown location, with no explanation given for the rearrest.

Two hours later, Ghazal called home to report being held in a Ministry of Intelligence detention centre, but for the next month was incommunicado.

According to Article18’s sources, Ghazal was pressured during interrogations to admit using the Bible and other Christian literature for evangelical purposes, but Ghazal denied this, saying it was the right of every Christian to possess them and that they had been for personal use only.

Ghazal’s rearrest came days after the massacre of thousands of protesters, including at least 22 Christians.

Ghazal was first arrested in November 2024, after protesting against the harassment endured since converting to Catholicism seven years prior.

After converting, the Islamic law graduate was prevented from taking the bar examination and pressured to leave the country, while Ghazal’s spouse, a fellow convert, has been unable to access the medication required to manage Parkinson’s disease.

Article18’s executive director, Mansour Borji, said that due to the spouse’s condition, Ghazal’s sentencing was in reality “a sentence for both of them”.