Court of Appeals: Five Christian Converts Sentenced to 41 Years and 10 Months in Prison

HRANA – The convictions of five Christian converts, including Hesamoddin (Yahya) Mohammad Joneydi, Morteza (Kalvin) Faghanpour Sasi, and Abolfazl (Benjamin) Ahmadzadeh Khajani, were upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals. These converts had previously been sentenced by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Varamin to a total of 41 years and 10 months in prison.

Based on a ruling issued by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals on September 17 and recently delivered to the defendants, Hesamoddin (Yahya) Mohammad Jonidi, Abolfazl (Benjamin) Ahmadzadeh Khajani, and two other Christian converts who requested anonymity, were each sentenced to eight years and one month in prison. Morteza (Kalvin) Faghanpour Sassi received a sentence of eight years and eleven months in prison.

The breakdown of Morteza (Kalvin) Faghanpour Sasi’s sentence is as follows: seven years and six months in prison for “deviant educational and proselytizing activities contrary to and disruptive of Islamic Sharia law in connection with contacts abroad”, seven months for “propaganda against the regime”, and 17 months for “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

Meanwhile, Hesamoddin (Yahya) Mohammad Jonidi, Abolfazl (Benjamin) Ahmadzadeh Khajani, and the two unnamed Christian converts were each sentenced to seven years and six months in prison on the charge of “deviant educational and proselytizing activities contrary to and disruptive of Islamic Sharia law in connection with contacts abroad”, plus seven months in prison for “propaganda against the regime.”

The initial ruling against them had been issued on July 16 by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court of Varamin, presided over by Judge Ashkan Ramesh.

According to information obtained by HRANA, the charges were based on accusations such as the illegal distribution of Christian books, participation in several online universities abroad for studies and training in evangelism and Christian teachings, and the publication of a caricature of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic on social media.

It should be noted that another part of the case, concerning the charge of “insulting the sacred,” has been referred to Branch 104 of the Criminal Court Two of Varamin, presided over by Judge Mohammad Hossein Esmail Morineh. A hearing on this charge is scheduled for October 7.

Faghanpour , a Christian convert from Varamin, was arrested by security forces on June 13 and transferred to Evin Prison. Following his arrest, agents searched his home and confiscated books, religious images, and his mobile phone. He was later released temporarily after posting two salary slips as bail.

Hesamoddin (Yahya) Mohammad Jonidi, 45 years old, was arrested by security forces in November 2024 and taken to Ward 209 of Evin Prison. He was eventually released after posting bail of 1.5 billion tomans.

Monthly Report – September 2025: Human Rights Situation in Iran

HRANA– This report reviews documented cases of human rights violations in Iran in September 2025, based on statistics compiled by HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran. The sharp rise in executions during this month, the arrests of minors, and the alarming reports of prisoner deaths in Qarchak Prison of Varamin were among the most notable human rights violations recorded.

Executions

In September, Iranian prisons recorded 183 executions, marking the highest monthly total since the start of the year. According to HRANA, the executed included 164 men and 6 women, while the gender of 13 prisoners remains unverified due to the lack of official announcements.

At least 9 Afghan nationals were among those executed, bringing the total number of Afghan citizens executed in Iran since the beginning of this year to 50.

Of those executed, 92 prisoners had been sentenced to death on drug-related charges, and 83 were executed on murder charges. Since the beginning of this year, the Iranian regime’s judiciary has executed 486 individuals on drug-related charges.

In addition, two individuals, including Babak Shahbazi, were executed on the political charge of “enmity against God” (Moharebeh). For Babak Shahbazi, “intelligence and security collaboration with Israel” was cited as an instance of this charge.

Furthermore, one prisoner was executed on politico-religious charges, and another on security-related charges. The charges against four prisoners remain unknown.

In September, the Iranian regime’s judiciary issued death sentences against ten individuals, including one woman. The gender of two of those sentenced to death remains unknown. Among these cases is the concerning news of the Supreme Court’s confirmation of the death sentence against Peyman Farah-Avar, a poet from Gilan.

Additionally, one individual in Yasuj has also been sentenced to execution in public.

right to life

Prisoners’ Rights

In September, six prisoners died in Iranian prisons due to illness and the lack of adequate or timely medical care. Among these cases, HRANA reported the consecutive deaths of three women in Qarchak Prison of Varamin. One of them, Somayeh Rashidi, who had been arrested in Tehran for writing slogans, died as a result of delays in being transferred to a hospital.

In addition to the above cases, in September HRANA documented 31 reports of political and religious prisoners being denied medical care in prison.

The detention of political and religious prisoners under harsh and unsuitable conditions is another recurring instance of rights violations in Iran’s prisons. Among such cases is the detention of the British couple, Craig and Lindsay Foreman, in poor conditions, including being held in an overcrowded ward lacking proper sleeping arrangements.

Other instances of prisoners’ rights violations reported by HRANA this month regarding political prisoners and prisoners of conscience include: 45 cases of holding prisoners in legal limbo, 14 cases of families being denied information about the condition of their detained relatives, 44 reports of prisoners being transferred to solitary confinement, 2 cases of denial of access to a lawyer, 13 cases of denial of visitation rights, and 8 cases of pressure and threats against prisoners.

In response to such violations, some prisoners resort to hunger strikes. In September, HRANA documented 4 hunger strikes and 2 cases of suicide among prisoners (political and non-political).

prisoners rights

Kolbars and Fuel Carriers

In September, 15 citizens lost their lives as a result of indiscriminate shootings by military and security forces – a figure that is three times higher than the previous month. Since the beginning of this year, military forces, particularly in border areas, have taken the lives of 77 people.

Of those killed this month, five were fuel carriers (sukhtbar) and one was a kolbar (cross-border porter). In addition, 13 others were injured as a result of these indiscriminate shootings, including two kolbars and three fuel carriers.

In addition, landmine explosions in September caused the death and injury of four Iranian citizens. Among the victims were two teenage brothers killed in Mirjaveh, located in Sistan and Baluchestan Province.

Freedom of Thought and Expression

In September, 34 individuals were arrested by security forces for expressing their opinions and beliefs. Additionally, 15 people were summoned to security agencies and 23 others to court.

Among those arrested were three lawyers in Gilan Province: Shahrzad Sharabiyani, Shadi Falahati, and Hesam Pourahmadi. Furthermore, ten other lawyers in this province were also summoned to security and judicial authorities.

During the same month, 14 people were tried on similar charges, and convictions were issued against 23 individuals, resulting in a total of 868 months of prison sentences as well as a ruling of 38 lashes.

Regarding freedom of expression, eight protest gatherings were held in September, while in one case security forces prevented a ceremony and gathering from taking place. During the same month, the Press Court also tried the managers of three media outlets as well as a member of parliament.

Workers’ Rights

In September, HRANA documented 122 workers’ protest gatherings and two labor strikes, including strikes by workers in the oil and gas industries. According to these reports, more than 5,100 workers stated that they have not received their overdue wages.

Additionally, a labor activist was sentenced to 72 months in prison.

Also, workplace accidents in September claimed the lives of 35 workers and left 69 others injured. Since the beginning of this year, 280 workers have lost their lives in workplace incidents.

In September, trade associations and unions held 68 protest gatherings and two strikes. In one case, a teachers’ gathering was met with mass arrests and the confiscation of personal belongings. A total of 19 people were arrested, and 10 individuals faced convictions in court. HRANA also documented the closure of 29 commercial establishments during this month.

Women’s Rights

Among the most serious violations of women’s rights this month were the killings of three women, including a 35-year-old woman in Saqqez who was set on fire by her husband and died. In addition, a woman in Khomam, Gilan Province, was the target of an acid attack.

A man was also murdered in a so-called honor killing, and one case of sexual assault was reported.

Furthermore, the Iranian regime sealed eight commercial establishments for allegedly failing to enforce mandatory hijab regulations.

Children’s Rights

In September, Iranian security forces arrested 11 minors under the age of 18.

During the same month, the killings of seven children were reported, including the murder of a teenage girl in Shadegan in an honor-related killing.

Additionally, the deaths of two children and injuries to two others were reported as a result of the negligence of state authorities.

Children Rights

Religious Minorities

In September, security forces arrested one member of a religious minority. Additionally, the Iranian judiciary sentenced eight members of religious minorities to a combined total of 701 months in prison. In one case, Loghman Amini, a Sunni cleric, was sentenced to imprisonment and stripped of his clerical status.

HRANA also documented six court summonses and one case of a house search targeting religious minorities during this month.

Ethnic Rights

In September, 21 members of ethnic minorities were arrested by security forces. Among them was Peyman Ebrahimi, an Azerbaijani-Turk activist.

HRANA also reported two summonses to security agencies, two court summonses, and one case of physical assault carried out by security forces against members of ethnic minorities.

Inhuman Punishment

In September, the Iranian regime issued a total of 642 flogging sentences, along with one case of shame parading of a defendant in the city of Borujerd, and a ruling for amputation – all examples of inhuman punishments.

Drug-Related Charges; A Prisoner Executed in Semnan Prison

HRANA – At dawn today, Monday, September 29, the death sentence of a prisoner who had previously been convicted on charges related to drug offenses was carried out in Semnan Prison.

HRANA has confirmed the identity of the prisoner hanged at dawn today, Monday, as Yaser Bakhshi. According to information received by HRANA, Mr. Bakhshi had earlier been arrested on drug-related charges and later sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court.

As of the time of this report, the execution of this prisoner has not been announced by prison officials or relevant authorities.

In 2024, Iranian prisons witnessed the execution of 930 inmates. According to HRANA’s data, the number of executions carried out by the Iranian regime’s judiciary has risen steadily over the past five years. The percentage of executions related to drug charges has also increased year after year.

Execution of Two Prisoners in Dastgerd Prison of Isfahan

HRANA – At dawn on Monday, September 29, two prisoners who had previously been sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses and murder were executed in Dastgerd Prison of Isfahan.

HRANA has confirmed the identities of the prisoners who were hanged at dawn on Monday as Milad Kiani and Behnam Mirahmadi.

According to information received by HRANA, Mirahmadi, a resident of Fooladshahr, Isfahan, had earlier been arrested on charges related to drug offenses and sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court. Mr. Kiani had been arrested on a charge of murder and sentenced to death by the Criminal Court.

As of the time of this report, the execution of these prisoners has not been announced by prison officials or relevant authorities.

According to HRANA’s statistics, in 2024, 61 inmates were hanged in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan – a 74% increase compared to the previous year. This sharp rise reflects a disturbing escalation in executions at this facility.

Morteza Faghanpour, Christian Convert, Sentenced to 8 Years and 11 Months in Prison

HRANA – Morteza Faghanpour Sasi, a Christian convert from Varamin, has been sentenced by Branch 1 of the city’s Revolutionary Court to eight years and eleven months in prison.

The verdict, issued on July 16 by Judge Ashkan Ramesh, includes seven years and six months in prison on the charge of “educational and promotional activities deemed deviant and contrary to Islamic Sharia, in connection with foreign countries.” He was also given an additional 17 months for insulting the Supreme Leader. Following his appeal, the case has been referred to Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals, presided over by Judge Ahmad Zargar.

A source close to the Faghanpour family told HRANA: “Evidence presented against him included the alleged illegal distribution of Christian literature, enrollment in several online foreign universities to study evangelism, and publishing a caricature of the Supreme Leader on social media.”

HRANA has also learned that a separate part of his case, concerning the charge of insulting sacred beliefs, has been referred to Branch 104 of the Criminal Court II in Varamin, presided over by Judge Mohammad Hossein Esmail Morineh. The trial on this charge is scheduled for October 7.

Morteza (Calvin) Faghanpour Sasi, son of Abbas, was arrested on June 14 by security forces and transferred to Evin Prison. After his arrest, agents searched his residence and confiscated books, religious images, and his mobile phone.

He spent one month under interrogation in Ward 240 of Evin Prison, followed by 20 days in Ward 209. Unable to post bail, he remained for four months in Ward 8 before being temporarily released after providing two salary slips.

It should be noted that HRANA recently reported on the sentencing of Hesamoddin (Yahya) Mohammad Joneydi, another Christian convert from Varamin and a co-defendant in this case, who received eight years and one month in prison.

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Paria Marandiz, Baha’i Citizen, Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison and Additional Punishment

HRANA – Paria Marandiz, a Baha’i citizen, has been sentenced by Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to three years in prison along with a two-year ban on using social media. Part of her sentence has been suspended.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Ms. Marandiz was convicted on charges of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran during the 12-day war” and “propaganda in support of the Israeli regime.” In addition to the prison term, the court imposed a two-year prohibition on her online activity.

Based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the most severe charge—propaganda in support of the Israeli regime—will be enforced, meaning she must serve two years in prison. The remaining 18 months of her sentence have been suspended for five years.

Her trial was held on September 22 at Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Earlier, on August 16, she was interrogated at Branch 3 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office of District 33 in Tehran. She was subsequently released on bail set at 3.5 billion tomans.

Marandiz had previously been summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence on June 20, July 1, and July 13, during which she was interrogated for several hours on each occasion.

On June 17, security forces briefly detained her. At the time of her arrest, her home was searched, and agents confiscated personal belongings belonging to her and her family, including books, religious photographs, laptops, and mobile phones.

Over the past decade, the Iranian Bahá’í community has been disproportionately targeted by Iran’s security forces and judiciary—more than any other minority group. In the past three years, an average of 72 percent of the reports on religious rights violations collected by HRANA have documented the Iranian regime’s repression of the Bahá’í community.

More than Two Decades Behind Bars, Prisoner Profiles – No. 8: Afshin Baymani

HRANA – Numerous political and religious prisoners in Iran have spent more than two decades in detention. To ensure their stories are not lost amid the constant churn of daily news, HRANA publishes a series of reports dedicated to them. Each report reviews the prisoner’s case history, prison conditions, access to basic rights, and urgent needs.

This report examines the current situation of Afshin Baymani after over two decades in prison.


Information Sheet

• Name: Afshin Baymani

• Year of Arrest: 2000 (1379 in the Iranian calendar)

• Stated Charge: “Moharebeh [enmity against God] through collaboration with the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK)”

• Initial Sentence: Death penalty

• Current Sentence: Life imprisonment (commuted with one degree of reduction)

• Places of Detention:
After his conviction, Baymani spent years in various wards of Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj. In August 2023, he was transferred from there to Ward 10 (Section 8) of Evin Prison, without respect for the principle of separation of crimes. In September of the same year, again without separation of crimes and with violence, he was transferred from Evin to the security ward (Unit 3) of Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj. In November 2023, he was granted medical furlough from Ghezel Hesar for treatment and care. However, after about one month—despite incomplete treatment—he was rearrested at his residence by police forces on the orders of the Head of Enforcement of Verdicts of Karaj Revolutionary Court and transferred to Asadabad Prison in Mobarakeh, Isfahan, where he was held in the health ward. In January 2024, he was once again transferred from Asadabad to Ghezel Hesar Prison, where he remains to this day.

• Leave / Access: No furlough has been reported in recent years; access to family and lawyer has been limited.

• Current Status: Still serving a life sentence despite legal changes that could allow for review or reduction.

Case Background and Judicial Process

Afshin Baymani was arrested on September 5, 2000, on charges of “Moharebeh through collaboration with the PMOI” and allegedly assisting his brother, Mehdi Baymani, a member of the PMOI, to escape. He was sentenced to death by the Tehran Revolutionary Court, and this ruling was upheld on appeal. After six years, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. While this change prevented his execution, it placed him in the category of indefinite imprisonment, which in practice can last for decades and significantly restricts access to review mechanisms.

Key Points in the Judicial Process

• Severe Security Charge: The “Moharebeh” charge is among the most serious in Iran’s political-security cases, with broad legal and practical consequences.

• Sentence Conversion: His initial death sentence and subsequent commutation to life highlight both the severity of the charge and later judicial interventions, though without resolving potential injustices in due process.

• Continued Imprisonment Despite Legal Changes: Legal reforms allowing retrials, sentence reductions, or conditional release in such cases have not been applied to Baymani.

Detention Conditions and Transfers

Throughout his imprisonment, Baymani has been repeatedly transferred between prisons and wards, including Rajai Shahr, Evin, Ghezel Hesar, and Asadabad Prison. Transfers were often violent and carried out without regard to the separation of crimes. He has repeatedly protested mistreatment, lack of medical care, and inhumane conditions, including hunger strikes in 2011 and 2018.

Observations on Prison Standards

• Frequent Transfers: Repeated relocations disrupted family contact, legal representation, and medical treatment.

• Solitary Confinement as Punishment: Baymani has been held in solitary on numerous occasions, sometimes for weeks, in violation of international standards that require solitary to be rare and tightly controlled.

• Violence in Prison: Reports document multiple instances of physical and verbal abuse by prison authorities, including beatings during transfers and threats during hunger strikes.

• Denial of Medical Care: Despite suffering from heart disease, blocked arteries, chest pain, hypertension, diabetes, kidney stones, and requiring angiography and mitral valve surgery, he has repeatedly been denied hospital access. This deliberate deprivation violates the right to health and, in some cases, the right to life, and is often used as a form of pressure.

Access to Family, Lawyer, and Leave

In recent years, Baymani has not been granted furlough. Reports indicate limited access to both family and lawyer, restricting not only his well-being but also his ability to pursue legal remedies.

Potential Legal Pathways (General Recommendations)

1. Retrial: Exploring new evidence or procedural flaws.

2. Sentence Reduction or Commutation: If legal grounds allow.

3. Conditional Release / Suspension of Sentence: Based on duration served, conduct, and medical condition.

4. Addressing Rights Violations: Including access to medical care, protection from abuse, family visits, and legal counsel.

5. International Documentation and Advocacy: If domestic channels remain blocked.

Timeline Summary

• 2000 (1379): Arrest; charged with Moharebeh through collaboration with the PMOI

• Initial Sentence: Death penalty commuted to life imprisonment

• 2000s–2020s: Years spent in Rajai Shahr Prison; repeated transfers

• 2011–2016: Several hunger strikes, solitary confinements, violent transfers reported

• 2018: 57-day hunger strike in protest of denial of medical leave and new case fabrication

• 2023–2024: Transfers between Evin, Ghezel Hesar, and Asadabad Prisons; medical furlough cut short; violent rearrest; chest injury during prison violence in February 2024

• Present: Serving life sentence in Ghezel Hesar, without medical access, furlough, or consistent family contact

Conclusion and Importance of Review

Despite legal changes enabling retrials, reductions, or release for those convicted of Moharebeh, Afshin Baymani remains in prison. His case highlights the broader plight of long-term political-security prisoners in Iran, underlining the need for both domestic and international mechanisms to review and reduce such sentences. His situation emphasizes denial of fundamental rights during imprisonment—furlough, visits, legal access—and the urgent necessity of sustained advocacy.

Urgent Needs:

Regular, equal access to lawyer and family

Independent medical evaluation, particularly after reports of violence and long-term health conditions

Legal review for retrial, sentence reduction, or release under current laws

Enforcement of prison regulations on visits, contact, and furlough

Access to adequate healthcare and treatment


About this Series

This report is part of HRANA’s “More than Two Decades Behind Bars” series, aimed at continuously documenting long-term prisoner cases and reminding society of the collective responsibility to make their struggles visible and pursue their rights.

Following Protest Gathering; 11 Citizens Arrested in Behbahan

HRANA – On Sunday, September 28, eleven job-seeking citizens from the village of Barzion in Bahmai County were arrested by Ministry of Intelligence agents following a protest gathering. After their arrest, these citizens were transferred to Behbahan Prison, Khuzestan province.

According to information obtained by HRANA, the eleven arrested citizens are: Ali Moradi, Abolfazl Jamali, Asad Fathi, Gholam Emami, Salman Ja’fari, Mohammad Ahmadi, Mohammadreza Bahrami, Mehdi Fathi, Morteza Atoon, Hamzeh Atoon, and Mohammad Mohammadpour.

They were arrested after holding a protest in front of the Maroun Dam and Power Plant Operating Company building. Residents of the area are demanding the opportunity to participate in the company’s employment test. Reports indicate that the arrest of some protesters was accompanied by violence from security forces.

Residents of the area had also gathered in front of the Maroun Dam and Power Plant Operating Company building in Behbahan on Saturday, September 27.

These citizens, who are mostly local youths, had previously told HRANA that they are barred from participating in the employment test due to the location of the Maroun Dam and Power Plant Operating Company in Khuzestan Province. They stressed that they have repeatedly raised the issue through local and provincial authorities but have received no response so far.

Execution of Four Prisoners in Adelabad Prison of Shiraz

HRANA – At dawn on Sunday, September 28, the death sentences of four prisoners were carried out in Adelabad Prison of Shiraz.

The identities of two of these prisoners, Esmail Rahimitabar and Ghodrat Dehghani, have been confirmed by HRANA. Iran Human Rights has also confirmed the identities of two others as Mehran Sahraei and Manouchehr Shahbazi.

According to information obtained by HRANA, Mr. Rahimitabar had previously been arrested on a murder charge and later sentenced to death by the Criminal Court. The other three prisoners had been arrested and sentenced to death on charges related to drug offenses.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not been announced by prison officials or relevant institutions.

According to HRANA’s statistics, in 2024, Adelabad Prison in Shiraz witnessed the execution of 92 inmates – an 88% increase compared to the previous year. This sharp rise places Adelabad as the second deadliest prison in Iran after Ghezel Hesar Prison in Karaj.

Reza Kooshki-Nejad Arrested

HRANA – Reza Kooshki-Nejad has been arrested.

On Sunday, September 28, 2025, his brother, Hossein Kooshki-Nejad, announced in a public post that Reza had been arrested. This citizen had previously reported on social media that a legal case had been opened against him.

As of the time of this report, no information is available regarding the reasons for his arrest, the charges against him, or his place of detention.

Reza Kooshki-Nejad, a resident of Lorestan, was previously arrested and convicted for his activities. He is also among those detained during the 2022 nationwide protests.

In 2024, a total of 2,783 Iranian citizens were arrested by security and judicial authorities due to their beliefs, opinions, or political and civil activities. Over the past decade, the number of such arrests has exceeded 56,000. The highest number of arrests occurred in 2022, during the nationwide protests, when HRANA documented 23,977 detentions.