Tag: Mehran Shamlooei

Christian Convert Mehran Shamlooei Arrested in Mashhad

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News, Religious Minorities
Mashhad, Mehran Shamlooei, Tehran

HRANA – Security forces arrested Christian convert Mehran Shamlooei yesterday at Mashhad Airport and transferred him to a security detention facility in the city.

A source close to Shamlooei’s family confirmed to HRANA: “He was arrested upon entering Iran at Mashhad Airport and taken to a local security facility. As he is facing a prison sentence, the on-duty judge has ordered his transfer to Tehran on Monday.”

Shamlooei was previously sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to 10 years and 8 months in prison, a fine of 250 million tomans, and an 11-year ban on social rights. The charges against him included “propaganda against Islamic law” and “membership in groups opposing the state.” The verdict was upheld in full by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals on April 23, 2025.

His trial was held on February 13, 2025, following an earlier interrogation in January at Branch 3 of the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office.

Shamlooei was last released from Evin Prison on December 1, 2024, after posting bail. He had been arrested on November 1, 2024, by Ministry of Intelligence agents for establishing a house church in Tehran and was held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is operated by the Ministry.

Based on about 170 reports compiled by HRANA over the past decade, 11% of all victims of religious minority rights violations by Iran’s security-judicial apparatus were Christians—particularly Christian converts. In 2024 alone, Christians made up over 9% of those targeted.

Appeals Court; 3 Christian Converts Sentenced to Over 41 Years in Prison and Other Punishments

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News, Religious Minorities
Abbas Soori, Christian converts, Mehran Shamlooei, Narges Nasri, Tehran, عباس سوری, مهران شاملویی, نرگس نصری

HRANA News Agency – Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals has upheld the convictions of Mehran Shamlooei, Abbas Soori, and Narges Nasri, Christian converts residing in Tehran.

On April 22, 2025, Branch 36 of the Tehran Appeals Court upheld the lower court’s ruling. In the first instance, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court had sentenced the three to a total of 41 years and 8 months of imprisonment, 41 years of deprivation of social rights, and a total fine of 910 million tomans.

Details of individual sentences:

  • Abbas Soori received 10 years in prison for “propaganda against Islamic law,” a 15-year ban from social rights, a 330-million-toman fine, and 5 years in prison for “membership in anti-regime groups.” As additional punishment, the court banned him from leaving the country, living in Tehran Province or neighboring provinces, and joining political or social groups for two years.

  • Mehran Shamlooei received 8 years in prison for “propaganda against Islamic law,” a 250-million-toman fine, an 11-year ban from social rights, and 2 years and 8 months in prison for “membership in anti-government groups.”

  • Narges Nasri was sentenced to 10 years in prison for “propaganda against Islamic law due to extensive and impactful contact with foreign entities” (with one degree of sentence enhancement), a 15-year ban from social rights, a 330-million-toman fine, 5 years in prison for “membership in anti-government groups,” and 1 year in prison for “propaganda against the regime.” Additionally, the court banned her for two years from leaving the country, residing in Tehran Province or neighboring provinces, and joining political or social groups.

The trial for their case took place on February 13, 2025, at the mentioned court branch.

Security forces arrested Mehran Shamlooei, Abbas Soori, and Narges Nasri on November 1, 2024, for establishing a house church in Tehran. They transferred them to the Ministry of Intelligence’s detention facility, known as Ward 209 of Evin Prison. Authorities later released them from Evin on December 1, 2024, after posting bail.

Narges Nasri, aged about 38, along with Mehran Shamlooei, aged 43, and Abbas Soori, are all residents of Tehran.

Christian Converts Mehran Shamlooei and Abbas Soori Sentenced to Over 25 Years in Prison

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News, Religious Minorities
Abbas Soori, Christian converts, Iman Afshari, Mehran Shamlooei

HRANA News Agency – Mehran Shamlooei and Abbas Soori, Christian converts residing in Tehran, have been sentenced by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to a total of 25 years and eight months in prison, 30 years of social deprivation, fines, and additional penalties.

Based on the verdict issued yesterday by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, Shamlooei and Soori were found guilty of “propaganda activities contrary to Islamic law due to their connections abroad and the extensive depth of their criminal acts” (with an increased degree of severity) and “membership in groups opposing the state.” Their sentences include:

A total of 25 years and 8 months in prison
30 years of deprivation of social rights
A fine of 580 million tomans (approximately 7,250 USD)

Sentences in Detail:

Abbas Soori was sentenced to:

10 years in prison for “propaganda activities contrary to Islamic law”
5 years in prison for “membership in groups opposing the state”
15 years of social deprivation
A fine of 330 million tomans (approximately 6,500 USD)
Additional penalties, including a travel ban, a ban on residing in Tehran and neighboring provinces, and a ban on membership in social groups for two years.

Mehran Shamlooei was sentenced to:

8 years in prison for “propaganda activities contrary to Islamic law”
2 years and 8 months in prison for “membership in groups opposing the state”
15 years of social deprivation
A fine of 250 million tomans (approximately 4,120 USD)

The trial took place on February 13, 2025, and the interrogation sessions were held in December at Branch 3 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Tehran.

Shamlooei and Soori were arrested on November 1 by Ministry of Intelligence agents for organizing a house church in Tehran. They were transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, a detention facility run by the Ministry of Intelligence, where they were interrogated daily. On December 2, they were released on bail of 2 billion tomans (approximately 25,000 USD) each.

Mehran Shamlooei is a 43-year-old Christian convert, and Abbas Soori is also a Christian convert residing in Tehran.