Iran — Mehran Shamloui, a Christian convert, has been denied a retrial for his case by the Iranian Supreme Court. 

Shamloui was arrested in 2024 and sentenced to 10 years and 8 months in prison in March 2025 for participating in a house church. The charges against him included “propaganda activities contrary to Islamic law,” and “membership in groups opposing the state.” 

He was released from jail after he posted bail in late 2024. He fled the country and intended to travel to Europe, but was stopped in Turkey. He was deported to Iran in July 2025 because he was missing formal documentation. 

Shamloui is currently serving his sentence in Iran’s Evin Prison, a notoriously deplorable institution known for mistreating its prisoners, including Christians. 

Iran is an Islamic Republic and a known persecutor of the Christian community. Bibles written in Farsi, the official language of Iran, are strictly prohibited, as is discussing Jesus with Muslims to share the gospel with them. According to the U.S. State Department, “proselytization of religions other than Islam carries a punishment of up to 10 years in prison.” 

The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), citing Article 18, reported in April 2025 that Christian persecution in Iran increased tremendously in 2024, with 96 Christians receiving a combined total of 263 years in jail. 

The executive director of CHRI, Hadi Ghaemi, commented on the alarming acceleration of abuse being experienced by Christ followers in the nation. 

“The Christian community in Iran is facing a crisis,” Ghaemi stated. “The Iranian authorities are abducting growing numbers of Christians and throwing absurd national security charges at them in order to imprison them for years for doing nothing other than peacefully practicing their faith.” 

Ghaemi continued to denounce Iran’s severe persecution of Christians in the nation. 

“[Iran] is terrified of its growing Christian convert community and is trying to crush it the way it crushes all perceived threats,” Ghaemi said. “[They’re using] sham prosecutions in kangaroo courts, violent brutality, and years locked behind bars.”