Prison Guard Assaults Christian Man After Plea For Heart Care
A prison guard in Iran reportedly assaulted a Christian convert after he requested medical attention for a heart condition, according to the advocacy group Article 18. Amir-Ali Minaei, who is serving a sentence of three years and seven months for “propaganda activities against the regime through establishing a house church,” was allegedly struck in the chest by the officer, worsening his heart condition. Minaei, 31, had repeatedly asked for a referral to a cardiologist, but his requests were denied by authorities at Evin Prison in Tehran, where he is being held.
Minaei’s heart problems reportedly began during his initial detention and worsened after his recent request for medical care. Despite the assault, Minaei has still not been referred to a cardiologist, and there are concerns his health could deteriorate further, especially as the Persian New Year approaches, making regular medical care even more difficult to access. Minaei, who was arrested in December 2023, had been detained in the Ministry of Intelligence-controlled Ward 209 of Evin Prison for more than two months before his release on bail in early 2024. His heart condition was diagnosed after his release, with the stress of his detention and the threat of future imprisonment believed to be the cause.
Minaei was sentenced in March 2024, and Judge Iman Afshari of Iran’s Revolutionary Court also imposed additional restrictions, including the deprivation of social rights, such as membership in any organization. Minaei had applied for conditional release earlier in January, but his request was blocked by Ministry of Intelligence agents who claimed he was not cooperating with them. According to Mansour Borji, Director of Article 18, such coercion is a common tactic used by authorities to pressure detainees into becoming informants, in exchange for temporary furloughs or early releases.
Borji expressed growing concern for Minaei’s health and urged the Iranian government to cease targeting house churches, which serve as the primary spaces for Persian-speaking Christians to gather, as official churches are only available for Iran’s Armenian and Assyrian minorities. He also condemned the denial of medical treatment and the physical abuse Minaei suffered, calling for the punishment of the responsible officer. Article 18 has called for Minaei’s immediate and unconditional release, highlighting the broader issue of increasing religious persecution in Iran.
According to the 2025 World Watch List report by Christian support organization Open Doors, Iran ranks as the ninth most difficult country for Christians. The report also indicated that the Iranian judicial system sentenced more Christians to prison in 2024 than in the previous year, with numerous arrests and fines aimed at suppressing dissident religious groups. Iran’s government continues to perceive the expansion of Christianity as a threat to national security, and the persecution of Christians, including financial suppression and detentions, remains a significant issue in the country.