Iran hands down lengthy jail sentences to Christian converts for evangelism

Iran handed down lengthy jail sentences in two separate cases to Christian converts and pastors for offenses relating to evangelism and acting against national security.

On July 4, Tehran's Revolutionary Court meted out lengthy jail terms to Pastor Victor Bet Tamraz, Amin Afshar Naderi, and Hadi Asgari for "illegal" Christian activities.

Tamraz, who led the Tehran Pentecostal Assyrian Church until its closure by Iran's Interior Ministry in 2009, received a 10-year prison sentence, according to World Watch Monitor.

Naderi was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment while Asgari was handed a 10-year sentence and a two-year travel ban.

Tamraz was arrested in December 2014 while celebrating Christmas in his home. Naderi and Asgari were arrested in August 2016 while enjoying a picnic in the Alborz mountains, north-east of Tehran. Three other Christians were also arrested at the picnic, but they were released after paying US$33,000 bail each.

Naderi was convicted of blasphemy, while Asgari was found guilty of "organizing and creating 'house churches.'" Tamraz was found guilty of "conducting evangelism" and "illegal house church activities." The three men were also convicted of "acting against national security."

In a separate case, four Christians were sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment in May for allegedly engaging in missionary work and "conducting activities against national security."

Iranian national Nasser Navard Goltape, was arrested on June 24, 2016, along with Azerbaijani nationals Yusif Farhadov, Eldar Gurbanov and Bahram Nasibov, after visiting their Christian friends in Tehran.

The four men were detained in Evin Prison, enduring regular interrogation and solitary confinement for two months before they were moved to a ward. They were all released on bail on Oct. 29, and the three Azeris were allowed to return to their country on Nov. 7, after paying the full bail amount.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, the four men were sentenced by Judge Ahmadzadeh to 10 years' imprisonment each during a hearing held on May 23, 2017, but they were not informed about the verdict until June 12.

The men are appealing their sentences, but some locals are not hopeful about the outcome as the authorities appear to be determined to use a case to make a punitive statement.

The three Azeris may forfeit bail by not returning to Iran, but Goltape does not have the same option.

Mansour Borji, advocacy director of Article 18, a group that defends persecuted Christians in Iran, expressed concern about the sentences, saying: "This recent verdict by Iran's revolutionary court is particularly alarming, as many other Iranian Christians are still awaiting trial for exercising their right to worship as Christians in privacy of their homes."

Records compiled by the group indicated that Judge Ahmadzadeh has sentenced at least 16 Christians to between five and 10 years imprisonment in the last three months.