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.
