Christian converts Mahmoud Mardani-Kharaji, 56, (on right of picture) and his brother Mansour, who will turn 50 this month, were sentenced to four years in prison in March. They were charged with “deviant propaganda activities contrary to the holy religion of Islam” and “acting against national security by participating in a house church”. The brothers were also banned from living in their home province of Isfahan for the first two years following their release from prison. In addition to that Mahmoud and Mansour were fined 150 million tomans each (equivalent to around €1,400) and given a five-year ban following release from membership of any group.

The two brothers were arrested over three years ago on 22 December 2021 when a Christmas gathering in Fooladshahr (a small city in Isfahan province) was raided by plainclothes officers. Following their arrest Mahmoud and Mansour were held incommunicado for over a month before they were released on bail. During their detention the brothers’ family members were intimidated and mocked by officials when they sought information about them, as Iranian Christian website Mohabat News reported.

Two other Christians who cannot be named and who were arrested alongside the brothers, were also present at the trial in January 2025 but the charges against them were dropped. It remains unclear why the charges against them were dropped, but in Iran converts are regularly put under pressure to renounce their Christian faith or to sign statements that they will refrain from any further involvement in Christian activities.

(Article 18 / Mohabat News)