An appeals court in Tehran has upheld the prison sentences of five Christians charged with “propaganda” for engaging in religious activities, a watchdog group reports. 

The five —  Hessamuddin Mohammad Junaidi, Abolfazl Ahmadzadeh-Khajani, Morteza Faghanpour-Saasi and two others who have not been identified — were arrested in June 2024 along with two other individuals at their homes and workplaces in the towns of Varamin and Pishva, just outside of Tehran.

They were each sentenced to 7.5 years in prison in July at the 1st Branch of the Revolutionary Court of Varamin for engaging in “propaganda activity contrary to Islamic law due to overseas connections.” They each also received seven months for “propaganda against the system.”

Their convictions were upheld on Tuesday by the 36th Branch of the Tehran Appeal Court, according to the London-based group Article 18, which reports that the accused were pressured into signing statements recanting their faith in the hopes of receiving lighter sentences. The Christians were convicted under sections of the Islamic Penal Code that ban actions like participating in Christian training courses in Turkey and online church services. 

Faghanpour-Saasi reportedly endured physical torture during his pre-trial detention. He received an additional 17-month prison sentence for insulting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on social media, according to Article 18. 

“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,” Article 18 reports. 

The charges against Faghanpour-Saasi relate to an alleged “illegal distribution of Christian books” and participation in online church services and Christian courses. Sources told Article 18 that Faghanpour-Saasi was tortured during the 20 days he spent in Ward 209 of Tehran’s Evin Prison in 2024. 

Iran ranks as the ninth-worst country when it comes to Christian persecution on watchdog Open Doors International’s World Watch List. While Iran recognizes some historic Christian communities, such as Armenians and Assyrians, they are often treated as second-class citizens impacted by discriminatory policies.  They are banned from preaching the Gospel in the Persian language. 

Meanwhile, most of the Christian population within Iran are Christian converts from Islam who face the most severe violations of their freedoms. They are viewed as apostates and treated as a threat to the Islamic government’s control over the people. Countless ministry leaders have been arrested and charged with “crimes against national security.” 

In August, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence accused 53 Christians arrested in recent weeks of espionage. State media aired a video showing detainees, Bibles and other Christian resources they allegedly smuggled into the country.

“The clear suggestion being made here is that all Evangelical Christians are associates of [Israeli intelligence agency] Mossad,” Article 18 Director Mansour Borji said.