Iranian-Armenian pastor Joseph Shahbazian is in prison for the second time, serving a second 10-year sentence on charges related to ordinary religious activities such as praying, performing baptisms, taking Communion and celebrating Christmas.
Joseph has been detained since February 2025, when he was re-arrested, only 17 months after he was “pardoned” following a previous 10-year sentence related to his leadership of a house-church.
Joseph’s second 10-year sentence was issued in October 2025, when he and four other Christians were sentenced to a combined over 50 years in prison.
On top of the prison sentences, the Christians’ personal property, including Bibles and other Christian literature, was confiscated by the state for the “research” purposes of the Ministry of Intelligence.
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