Iran Imprisons Christians Over Christmas For "Zionist Christianity": Woman Sentenced 5 Years, Brothers Get 4 Years Each For Attending Church
Islamic Republic Jails Converts For Celebrating Christmas, Attending Turkey Seminar, Holding House Church Prayers As Iran Ranks 9th Worst Persecutor Worldwide
Two Christians in Iran sentenced to prison for their faith were locked up on December 16 and 20, and a Christian woman was summoned to begin serving her five year prison term two days before Christmas according to Article 18, an advocacy group dedicated to promotion of religious freedom in Iran. Nayereh Arjaneh, arrested along with her husband at their home in Garmsar on July 7, 2025.
Arjaneh has been sentenced to a total of 10 years in prison, however under Iranian law only the most severe sentence, five years of imprisonment in this case, is enforceable according to Article 18.
She was among a group of Christian converts arrested after attending a seminar in Turkey in 2025. Arjaneh was sentenced to five years of unconditional imprisonment, a fine of 165 million tomans, two years of internal exile in Kouhbanan in Kerman Province a 10 hour drive from her home, and a two year travel ban.
She was also sentenced to an additional five years in prison and a fine of 60 million tomans for allegedly providing financial and material support to groups affiliated with Zionist Christianity.
Brothers Jailed For Christmas Gathering, Woman Falls From Bunk Fractures Spine In Prison
In Isfahan's Dastgerd Prison two brothers arrested at a Christmas gathering four years ago have begun serving their four year sentences, Mahmoud Mardani Kharaji on December 16 and Mansour Mardani Kharaji on December 20. The Christian converts, both in their 50s, also face a two year exile from their home province of Isfahan following their release and are banned from membership in any groups for five years.
They were also fined the equivalent of about $1,500 each. They were convicted under the amended Article 500 which criminalizes deviant propaganda activities contrary to the holy religion of Islam. Charges against two other Christians arrested along with them were dropped.
Another Christian convert Aida Najaflou was temporarily released from Tehran's Evin Prison on December 21 over concerns of risk of paralysis after fracturing her spine falling out of her prison bunk bed. Pending the outcome of her appeal against her 17 year sentence, the 44 year old Najaflou was released after posting bail equivalent to more than $75,000.
Iran is ranked at number 9 on Open Doors 2025 World Watch List of the 50 countries where Christians are most at risk of facing discrimination and persecution. The report noted that despite persecution, the church in Iran is growing.
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
Conversion is apostasy. Apostasy means death penalty.
Celebrate Christmas? Prison. Attend church in Turkey? Prison. Hold prayer meetings in your home? Prison.
The regime calls house churches propaganda against the system and deviant teachings contrary to Islamic law.
Translation: believing Jesus Christ is Lord contradicts Islam, so you go to prison.
Iran ranks 9th worst Christian persecutor in the world.
Despite this, Christianity is the fastest growing faith in Iran.
Millions are converting despite torture, execution threats, and decades in prison.
The Islamic Republic imprisoned a cancer patient's wife right before Christmas.
Her husband is too sick from chemotherapy to serve his sentence yet.
They'll take him when the cancer treatment is done.
This is what Islamic theocracy looks like.
TAKE ACTION
• Article 18: Donate at articleeighteen.com to support advocacy and legal defense for imprisoned Iranian Christians including Nayereh Arjaneh, the Mardani Kharaji brothers, and Aida Najaflou facing years in prison for their faith
• Voice of the Martyrs: Support at persecution.com to provide aid to families of imprisoned Iranian Christians and fund underground church networks facing arrest for celebrating Christmas and holding prayer meetings
• Open Doors USA: Give at opendoorsusa.org to support Iran's growing underground church where Christianity is fastest growing faith despite Islamic Republic imprisoning converts and threatening execution for apostasy
• Barnabas Fund: Donate at barnabasfund.org to assist Christian converts in Iran traveling to neighboring countries for church services since Iranian law prohibits them from building churches or establishing Christian centers
• International Christian Concern: Support at icc.org providing emergency assistance to Iranian Christian families facing exile, fines exceeding $75,000 bail, and imprisonment under Article 500 criminalizing Christian activities contrary to Islamic law
