According to advocacy group Article 18, Iranian prison officers defeated Christian converts who were jailed to demand treatment for their heart conditions.
According to a reporter’s statement in Article 18, “Amir Ali Minei, who served three years and seven months in propaganda operations against the government earlier this month by the prison guards identified as Maedi Salimi.”
Tehran’s Evin prison authorities have denied his repeated requests for referrals to cardiologists for heart problems that began as a result of his initial detention, the group said.
“After the latest request earlier this month, Amir Ali was beaten by a prison officer who hit the chest directly, which caused his condition to worsen,” Article 18 said. “Despite the assault, Amir Ali has not yet been referred to a cardiologist, and I fear that his condition will worsen in the coming weeks as the Persian New Year season begins and regular treatment options become even more difficult.”
Minnay, a native of Tehran, was arrested in December 2023 and was detained for more than two months in the 209th district of Evin Prison, controlled by the Intelligence Ministry of Eligibility. Minaei’s heart condition, released on bail worth around USD 10,000 following a series of intensive interrogations, was diagnosed in March 2024 during his release and sentencing.
Iran’s Revolutionary Court Judge Iman Afshali has declared him a disenfranchised social rights, including membership in any organization, following his imprisonment, the group said.
Minaei applied for a conditional release in January, but the Intelligence Agency’s Agent Ministry blocked the request by claiming a lack of “cooperation” with them, said Article 18 Director Mansour Borji.
“Detainees are often forced to accept extrajudicial terms as a prerequisite to receiving benefits such as temporary foulou, pardon, and early release,” Borgi said. “The authorities and interrogators are seeking to use these individuals as informants or ‘collaborators’ and request that they resume daily life while secretly gathering intelligence about other Christians and their activities. ”
The coercion further violates the rights of detainees, and they are under surveillance and excessive pressure, he added.
“As the Persian New Year is beginning, we are increasingly concerned about the health and happiness of Amir Ali, which was the only ‘attack’ we would meet with our fellow followers,” Borgi said. “We ask for his immediate and unconditional release and stop Iranian authorities from targeting House churches.”
He asked authorities to recognize the House of Representatives churches as the only place of worship available to Iranian Christians who want to worship together in their native language, as Iranian Armenian and Assyrian minority churches are prohibited for Persian-speaking people.
“We are also furious about the denial of treatment to Amir Ali, especially the recent assault, and call on Iranian authorities to ensure that the chief Mehdi Salimi is receiving appropriate punishment for his crimes,” Borji said.
Iran ranked 9th on the 2025 Watchlist (WWL) of Christian Support Organization Open Doors in the 2025 World Watchlist (WWL) report for 50 countries where it is the most difficult to become a Christian. The report said despite the persecution, “Iranian churches are growing steadily.”
According to the Article 18 Annual Report, the Islamic Court persecuted six times more prison time in 2024 to persecute Christians. Last year, an Iranian court sentenced 96 Christians nationwide to 263 years in prison last year, compared to 22 Christians sentenced a total of 43 years in 2023, according to the report.
Last year, at least 139 Christians were arrested on faith-related issues. Those arrested are increasingly charged under Section 500, amended in 2021, with longer prison sentences. The Iranian judicial system also claimed a fine of nearly $800,000 for attempts to break the backs of “dissident” church groups, according to the report.
Article 18 pointed out that Iran’s religious freedom violations are actually much greater than publicly known.
Iranian officials interpret the spread of Christianity within Iran as a “similar threat,” and, according to the report, justifies further financial restraint.
“The authorities even told Christian detainees that “foreign hostile states,” including the “Zionist groups,” are actively supporting Iran’s Christian organizations and are streamlining serious measures against the Church’s finances as a “national security,” the report said.
