Christians Ordered to Prison

Sara Ahmadi and Homayoun Zhaveh Photo: Article18
Sara Ahmadi and Homayoun Zhaveh
Photo: Article18

Christian converts Homayoun Zhaveh and his wife Sara Ahmadi were on holidays with friends when they were arrested by Iranian intelligence officials. As a result of their house church activities, Homayoun was sentenced to two years in prison while Sara received a sentence of eight years. At last report, they were awaiting an order to report to prison. More details are available here.

Homayoun and Sara received the order to present themselves to the notorious Evin Prison by June 15th. When they reported as requested, the couple were informed that they had received a 30-day reprieve. It is their hope that, during this reprieve, the Supreme Court will agree to hear their case, or at least agree to allow Homayoun to pay a fine instead of completing the prison term, since he suffers from an advanced case of Parkinson's disease. However, if the courts permit Homayoun to return home, and mandate Sara to remain in prison, he would not have her assistance as his primary caregiver.

In a separate case, Reza Zaeemi turned himself in to the Karaj Central Prison on June 2nd to start serving a nine-month sentence for "promoting evangelical Christianity." Like Homayoun and Sara, Reza is a convert from Islam.

While Christianity is an official religion in Iran, leaving Islam is illegal. Converts such as these are not recognized by authorities as being "Christians" and, therefore, they are prohibited from attending any church services. As a result, converts worship discretely in private or small house church groups. It is believed there may be as many as one million converts in Iran. For more information on the persecution of Christians in Iran, go to our country report.

Praise God for this short reprieve for Homayoun and Sara. Pray that God will grant strength and grace to Homayoun, Sara and Reza as these newly charged Christian converts anticipate their prison sentences. In particular, may the married couple receive a sympathetic response from the courts, allowing them to remain at home so Sara can continue caring for Homayoun's physiological needs. Please also prayerfully uphold the many other Christians currently serving time in Iranian prisons because of their faith in Jesus Christ, in hopes that they too will receive a favourable outcome as they likewise await pardon from unjust prison sentences.

  • 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.