Christian Activist Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison


Mohammad-Hadi Bordbar
Photo: Mohabat News

Mohammad-Hadi (Mostafa) Bordbar, a Christian convert, was recently sentenced to five years in prison for membership in a so-called "anti-security organization" and an additional five years for gathering with intent to commit crimes against Iranian national security. The ruling was delivered to Mostafa's lawyer on July 31st, 2013.

The incident surrounding his arrest took place in December of 2012 during the Christmas holidays. Mostafa and about 50 other Farsi-speaking Christian converts had gathered in a home located in northern Tehran to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and worship together when 15 plain-clothes security officers raided the home and interrogated all those in attendance. The incident also led to the arrest of the Iranian-Armenian pastor, Vruir Avanessian. (For more information, click here.)

This is the second incident concerning Mostafa. Back in 2009, he was arrested for converting to Christianity and attending a house church. Although he was released after posting bail, the apostasy conviction remained in his criminal record. His lawyer, Shima Ghousheh, a member of the Iranian Human Rights Commission, stated that she is now working on an appeal to submit to the court.

While the Iranian Constitution recognizes the rights of religious minorities, including Christians, the Islamic regime of Iran prosecutes those who convert to Christianity from Islam. Persecution of Iranian Christian converts has been considerably on the rise since 2012. Many pastors and Christian activists have been arrested in recent years and given lengthy prison sentences as the number of Christian converts continues to increase and the network of underground house churches spreads at a rapid rate. To learn more about this, go to the Iran Country Report.

While we can be so very thankful for the fact that the underground church in Iran is growing and thriving, the consequences of converting to Christianity are harsh and extreme. Let us pray that the government's new leadership will realize that the intent of Christians is not to undermine the country's national unity but rather to enhance it through the practise of Godly principles and the teachings of Jesus. May imprisoned believers like Mustafa, and spiritual leaders such as Pastor Vruir, be granted favour and ultimately freedom as a result.

  • 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

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    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.)

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    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.