Christian arrested, sentenced to house arrest

On the morning of December 16, several Iranian security officials forcibly entered the home of Hamideh Najafi in the city of Mashhad and seized her personal belongings, including books, CDs and hand painted portraits of Jesus Christ. Hamideh was then arrested and detained. Authorities interrogated her about the names of other Christian evangelists in Iran. They also demanded that she deny her faith and return to Islam. When she resisted them, her husband was summoned to the detention centre where they blindfolded him and told Hamideh he would be beaten unless she signed a confession saying that she was mentally and psychologically disturbed. Hamidesh reportedly succumbed to pressure and gave this confession. Officials then set up a court date on December 30. She appeared only briefly, without the services of a lawyer. Although there were no formal charges placed against her, she was sentenced to three months of house arrest and has been accused of committing a "political" crime for contacting a foreign Christian television network.

While Hamideh was detained, the couple's 10-year-old daughter, Hadi, was held under supervision of the welfare office. Following the court verdict, Hadi was ordered to be transferred to foster parents due to her mother's alleged mental condition. However, as Hadi is suffering from a kidney and bladder infection, she was conditionally left in her mother's care. Officials have told the couple that if they insist on their Christian beliefs and speak publicly about their faith, Hadi will immediately be taken away from them and transferred to the custody of the welfare office. (Source: Farsi Christian News Network)

Pray for strength for Hamideh during her time of house arrest. Ask God to protect her and her family and embolden them to proclaim His name amid great pressure. Pray that Hadi will recover from her infection and that she will be able to remain with her parents.

For more information on the persecution of Iranian Christians, click here.

  • Current Ministry Fund

    By funding television broadcasts, VOMC is making it possible for a vast audience of viewers to be reached throughout Iran with the "Good News" of Jesus' love via satellite.

    Project Fund: Underground Church

  • Country Information

    Designation
    Persecuted

    Population
    87,590,873 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity
    Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribes

    Religion (%)
    Islam (98.5), Christian (0.7), Baha'i (0.3), agnostic (0.3), other (0.2)

    Leader
    Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-Khamenei (1989)

    Government type
    Theocratic republic

    Legal system
    Religious legal system based on secular and Islamic law

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Iran

    As the Gospel message goes forth over the airwaves, may the growth of the church continue to multiply despite persecution. Pray that the Iranian government will be open to change, allowing full rights and protection for its non-Muslim citizens as well. In the meantime, may those who are forced to flee the country find safe refuge and help so they can live in peace and worship the Lord with freedom.

Iran News

  • Retrial Denied for Imprisoned Believer
    Mehran
    Mehran Shamloui
    Photo: Article 18

    Iran's Supreme Court has recently rejected the application for a retrial that was submitted on behalf of Mehran Shamloui, a Christian believer who is currently serving a ten-year prison sentence for his participation in house church activities. Recipients of previously published Persecution & Prayer Alert reports may recall that Mehran had fled to Türkiye in search of refuge. While there, the accused Iranian was apprehended and forced to return to Iran, where he had subsequently been arrested. (The initially posted report regarding Mehran's arrest may be reviewed here.)

  • Over 50 Arrested Christians Accused of Espionage
    A map of Iran has several labels, all showing where Christians were arrested since June 24, 2025.
    A map of Iran, marking the arrests
    of Christians since June 24, 2025. 
    (Click on the image for a larger view.)
    Photo: Article18

    Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) recently reported that over 50 Christians have been arrested since the end of the recent conflict between Iran and Israel in June 2025. The country's intelligence agency labelled the detained believers as "Mossad mercenaries," claiming that they had been trained by churches abroad and were now operating "under the guise of the Zionist Christian evangelization movement."

  • Convicted Christian Deported and Arrested
    Mehran
    Mehran Shamloui
    Photo: Article 18

    On March 8th, Mehran Shamloui was one of three Christians convicted in Iran for "propaganda" and membership in an alleged "opposition group." He was sentenced to more than ten years in prison. (For more details, see this report.)

  • Laleh Saati Receives Conditional Release
    A smiling Laleh is outside, and the sun is shining on her face. A tree is in the background.
    Laleh Saati
    Photo: Article18

    Laleh Saati is a Christian convert and former asylum-seeker who was incarcerated in February 2024 and sentenced to two years in prison. (For more information on the imprisonment of this 46-year-old Iranian follower of Jesus, visit this page.) Throughout Laleh's time in custody, concerns have been raised about her physical health and psychological well-being. Most recently, it was reported that the Christian woman was denied needed medical treatment for a hand injury that had occurred as a result of a fall.