Five Christian converts sentenced to 55 years in Tehran

Hengaw — Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Iranian authorities have sentenced five Christian converts, including Aida Najaflou, Lida Aleksani, Joseph Shahbazian, Naser Navard Goltapeh and another convert whose name remains unknown, to a combined total of 55 years in prison.

According to information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati, issued prison terms of 10, 5 and 2 years for Aida Najaflou on three separate charges, amounting to 17 years in total. The court also sentenced Joseph Shahbazian, Naser Navard Goltapeh and the unnamed convert to 10 years each, while sentencing Lida Aleksani to eight years in prison.

Article 18 reported that, under Iran’s aggregation of sentences rules, Najaflou will serve the maximum applicable penalty, which is 10 years of imprisonment.

The charges against the five individuals relate to allegations of “forming a house church” in Tehran and engaging in Christian religious activities.

Najaflou, Shahbazian and Naser Navard Goltapeh were arrested by intelligence forces in Tehran in February 2025 and later transferred to Evin Prison. They had previously faced summonses, interrogations and prosecutions from Iranian authorities for their religious activities.