Christian woman Leida Alksani arrested ahead of mother-in-law’s funeral in Tehran

Hengaw: Thursday, May 1, 2025

Leida Alksani, a Christian resident of Tehran, was arrested by intelligence agents just one day before her mother-in-law’s funeral. She has been transferred to Tehran’s Evin Prison, where her husband, Joseph Shahbazian, has been held for nearly three months.

According to reports obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, on Saturday, April 12, 2025, agents from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence raided the couple’s home, conducted a thorough search, confiscated personal belongings, and detained Alksani. She was subsequently taken to Evin Prison.

Sources familiar with the case confirmed that Alksani’s arrest took place only a day before the funeral ceremony of Shahbazian’s mother.

Joseph Shahbazian, previously sentenced to one year in prison for his Christian religious activities, was re-arrested by intelligence agents on February 7, 2025, and remains in temporary detention at Evin.