by Steve Dew-Jones | 20 Jun 2025 | News
An Iranian Christian alliance formed earlier this year has published its founding declaration, outlining core principles including to “represent and defend the rights of Iranian Christians”, “promote justice, freedom, equality, and human dignity”, and “continuously...
by Steve Dew-Jones | 19 Jun 2025 | News
At least three trials involving Iranian Christians charged in relation to their religious faith and activities have been postponed amid the ongoing conflict with Israel. Court hearings were due to take place in three cities, including Tehran, in recent days but were...
by Steve Dew-Jones | 18 Jun 2025 | News
Discrimination against religious minorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran has “persisted in law and practice”, the UN Secretary General notes in his latest report. The report, presented today at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, calls on the Islamic Republic to...
by Steve Dew-Jones | 17 Jun 2025 | News
“Article18 expresses deep concern over the ongoing conflict between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel. Our hearts are with all civilians — Iranian, Israeli, and others across the region — whose lives are being upended by violence they neither chose nor...
by Steve Dew-Jones | 12 Jun 2025 | News
Ordinary Christian acts such as praying, performing baptisms, taking Communion and celebrating Christmas have been cited as evidence of alleged crimes in the indictment against five Christians charged with “gathering and collusion” and “propaganda against the Islamic...
by Steve Dew-Jones | 6 Jun 2025 | News
Two Christian converts have been sentenced to 12 years each in prison on charges related to their possession of multiple copies of the Bible. Mehdi Rahimi, 49, and Kia Nourinia, 55, who have both fled the country, were sentenced in April at an Islamic Revolutionary...
by Steve Dew-Jones | 4 Jun 2025 | News
A Christian convert and former asylum-seeker who was sentenced to two years in prison on her return to Iran has been released conditionally after over 15 months in jail. Laleh Saati, 46, was released from Tehran’s Evin Prison on Saturday, 31 May, on the condition that...
by Steve Dew-Jones | 3 Jun 2025 | Features
Augustine still has nightmares about his time in prison and the multiple “gruelling” interrogation sessions he was subjected to following his arrest. The 34-year-old, who converted to Christianity at the age of 18, was in his mid-20s when he and his mother were...
by Steve Dew-Jones | 3 Jun 2025 | Witness Statements
For a summary of Augustine’s story, you can read our feature article here. Introduction 1. My name is Soheil Zargarzadeh Sani, but I am known as Augustine. I am an only child and I was born in Urmia [northwest Iran] in 1990 into a Muslim family that was relatively...
by Steve Dew-Jones | 21 May 2025 | News
A US Congresswoman has proposed a change to US law to prevent future deportations of asylum-seekers whose countries of origin are designated by the State Department as “severe” violators of religious freedom – such as Iran. The proposed bill, which was...
