Iran court upholds convictions of Christians for home prayers
Christians sentenced in Iran to 7.5 years in prison for participating in house prayers. Photo: Mohabat News
On October 1, 2025, the Tehran Court of Appeals upheld the sentences of five newly converted Christians convicted on charges of "propaganda against Islamic laws". This was reported by Article18.
Earlier, on September 26, it became known that the believers were sentenced in July by the Revolutionary Court of the city of Varamin. The Christians were each sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for “propaganda activity contrary to Islamic law due to overseas connections” and seven months for “propaganda against the system”.
As noted, the convicted were arrested at their homes and workplaces in the cities of Varamin and Pishva, near Tehran, in June 2024. They are accused of holding home prayer meetings and participating in online meetings with other Christians.
According to the source, the prisoners were subjected to pressure and torture, demanding they renounce the Christian faith. After several months of being detained in the Evin prison, they were released on bail of up to $30,000, but in July the court issued guilty verdicts.
One of the convicted received an additional sentence for allegedly insulting Iran’s Supreme Leader on social media.
All five Christians must appear at a civil court next week to face separate charges of “insulting Islamic sanctities” – for having been present during a Zoom meeting in which a Christian leader living outside Iran is alleged to have said something that was considered to be critical of Islamic beliefs.
Earlier, the UOJ reported that in Uganda, a Muslim schoolboy killed his brother for converting to Christianity.
Read also
Khust Eparchy commemorates St. Alexius of Carpathian Rus
In the village of Iza, the Divine Liturgy was held on the feast day of the holy ascetic of Transcarpathia.
Lyceum helping Orthodox school in Holosiiv has its license revoked
The Kyiv RMA has revoked the license of the private lyceum "Rancho School" following an inspection that began amid an investigation into the school at the Holosiiv Monastery.
In Michigan, armed man commits terrorist attack in U.S. largest synagogue
A man armed with a rifle rammed his vehicle into a major synagogue in a Detroit suburb and opened fire.
Believers consider Tychikos only legitimate Metropolitan of Paphos, media
Orthodox residents of Paphos oppose attempts to remove Metropolitan Tychikos and declare that the Metropolis needs not "puppets" but a true pastor.
In Komariv, UOC church "peacefully transferred" to OCU in presence of special forces
The church in Komariv was seized under police supervision, and UOC believers were denied access even to the old temple, forcing them to travel to a neighboring village for services.
Phanar hierarch: Ukraine unable to convince world of correctness of anti-UOC measures
Archbishop Elpidophoros in a letter to Patriarch Bartholomew acknowledged the failure of Ukrainian authorities to justify persecutions against the UOC.