Christian Leader Released from Prison

Church in Chains, Christian Solidarity Worldwide 09 January 2025

Matthias is smiling. — Matthias Haghnejad
Photo: CSW

In 2012, Matthias Haghnejad was among three Christian leaders who were charged with "spreading corruption on earth" and "action against national security." As a result, he was sentenced to six years in prison. In December 2014, the Christian man was thankfully acquitted of all charges. For more information on this earlier situation, visit this page.

Despite the positive news of Matthias' acquittal, unfortunately it was not the end of his ordeal. In January 2022 – three weeks after being re-released from prison (where he served an additional three years on a separate charge) – the Christian leader's acquittal relating to the 2014 charges was overturned, and he consequently had been forced to serve his former sentence. In the summer of 2023, the believer was then transferred to a prison located 1,600 kilometres away from his family.

We are thankful to report that Matthias was recently released on December 14th after completing his sentence. Regrettably, another court case against him remains pending, dating back to December 2022 when the Christian leader had been arrested – along with several other church members – during his short furlough from prison.

Praise God that Matthias was recently released from prison.
Pray that the Lord will grant this Christian leader peace, guidance and the provisions he now needs to integrate back into Iranian society.
Please remember to prayerfully uphold the numerous other followers of Jesus who are continuing to serve time in Iranian prisons because of their faith.
In general, pray for renewed courage, strength and perseverance on behalf of Iranian Christians across the country, so that they will remain steadfastly committed to following Christ in all circumstances.

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 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.)

Read more...
Over 50 Arrested Christians Accused of Espionage

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."

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Convicted Christian Deported and Arrested

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.)

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Laleh Saati Receives Conditional Release

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.

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