Two Christians flee Iran to escape harsh punishments

The brutal crackdown on Christians in Iran continues, with harsh punishments meted out to two believers who have already escaped the country.

Two believers have fled Iran, forcing them further underground, to escape harsh punishments for involvement in Christian activities.

Mehdi Rahimi (49) and Kia Nourinia (55) were tried in absentia and have been convicted of ‘propaganda activity of deviant Christian Zionist beliefs opposed to the system of the Islamic Republic of Iran’ and given prison sentences of ten years. They have also been given two years and a fine for ‘smuggling prohibited goods’.

The authorities raided their homes in November 2024 and discovered multiple copies of Bibles. Mehdi was out of the country at the time of the raid. Kia fled Iran shortly afterward.

The two men have also each been handed 15 years’ deprivation of social rights and fined the equivalent of more than £750 each. They’ve been ordered to pay the court ten times the value of the Bibles found in their possession.

In his summation, the judge called the Bible ‘deviant’ and ‘misleading’, highlighting just how dangerous it is for Christians in Iran to use the Bible, believe in it and share it with others.

• Why is Iran ninth on the World Watch List?

What good news is there to report?

Despite the stream of bad news from Iran recently, there have been some more positive developments to report.

Laleh Saati (46) was released on 31 May after serving 15 months of a two-year sentence for ‘acting against national security by connecting with “Zionist” Christian organisations’. Laleh was given a two-year travel ban and it’s reported that her release has been granted on the condition that she’d refrain from contact with the media, or contacts outside Iran.

Laleh had applied for asylum in Malaysia, but returned to Iran in 2017 to be reunited with her elderly parents after growing frustrated by how long it was taking to process her asylum claim. In February 2024, Laleh was arrested and subjected to intense interrogation for three weeks. Photos and videos of her baptism and Christian activities in Malaysia were used as evidence against her. She was later convicted and sentenced.

Laleh had been denied medical treatment in prison and there are concerns about her current mental health and wellbeing.

Meanwhile, Lida Alexani, the wife of Joseph Shahbazian, was released after a month in prison, whilst Amir-Ali Minaei ended his hunger strike after being given reassurances by the authorities.

These developments are a reminder that the circumstances of our persecuted family in Iran can change very quickly in answer to prayer. Please pray for more good news to emerge from the country in the coming weeks.