It’s outrageous this is still happening.
Hakop Gochumyan, an Armenian national, has been sentenced to ten years in prison in Iran on charges of proselytizing, which is forbidden under Iran’s stringent religious laws. His conviction, controversial due to its reliance on the judge’s “personal intuition” rather than substantial evidence, has sparked concerns about the fairness of Iran’s judicial system.
Gochumyan and his wife, Elisa Shahvardian, were detained in August 2023 while on vacation in Iran. They were at a friend’s home in Pardis, near Tehran, with their children when intelligence agents conducted a raid. The agents arrested the adults and confiscated Farsi-language New Testaments and other Christian materials. The couple’s children, aged 7 and 10, were subsequently cared for by Shahvardian’s aunt.
Both Gochumyan and Shahvardian were incarcerated in Evin Prison, known for its harsh conditions. Reports suggest they endured severe psychological torture and were placed in solitary confinement. While Shahvardian, who has Iranian ancestry and family ties in the country, was released on bail in October 2023, Gochumyan remained in custody, steadfastly denying the charge of “engaging in deviant proselytizing activity.”
During his trial, Gochumyan’s lawyer highlighted the lack of concrete evidence and criticized the reliance on judicial intuition, as allowed by Article 160 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code. Despite these arguments, his appeal was rejected, and his ten-year sentence was upheld in June 2024.
In Iran, historic Christian minorities like Armenians and Assyrians are allowed to practice their faith, but evangelism, particularly among Muslims and Farsi-speaking individuals, is strictly banned. Despite these severe restrictions and the threat of persecution, Christianity continues to grow in Iran, with underground churches persisting despite the considerable risks.