The family of imprisoned Christian convert Simin Soheilinia, who was due for release before the war began on 28 February, is concerned for her safety as she has not been heard from since the start of the conflict.

Simin, who turned 48 on Saturday, has been serving a ten-year sentence in Tehran’s Evin Prison on a charge of “acting against national security by establishing and leading an illegal Christian house-church”. Her sentence was reduced on retrial, first to six years and recently to three years and six months, after which it was agreed that she could serve the remainder of her sentence outside prison, with an electronic tag.

All contact with Simin and other prisoners of conscience was lost when the conflict began – before the war at least 48 Christians were serving sentences in prisons in Iran on charges related to their religious beliefs or activities, including at least 16 in Evin Prison.

On 19 March Article 18 reported, “Conditions at prisons including Evin have reportedly worsened, with suggestions that guards have abandoned their posts and counter-terrorism forces have taken charge. Family visits and hospital appointments have also reportedly been cancelled, while prisoners have been denied medical care. Article18 also understands that in some facilities prisoners are being fed just one small, low-quality meal a day.”

Background

Simin was first arrested on 30 January 2019 with Christian converts Mehdi Akbari, Fatemeh Sharifi and Mehdi Rokhparvar and was transferred to Evin Prison for interrogation. She was released on bail two weeks later and Article 18 reported that she had been “severely traumatised by her experience”.

On 24 October 2020 Simin and her fellow converts were sentenced at Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran to a combined 35 years in prison, whereupon she fled the country. The sentences were handed down by Judge Mohammad Moghiseh, nicknamed the “Judge of Death” for his harsh treatment of prisoners of conscience. The judge was assassinated in his office in January 2025.

Simin, Mehdi Akbari and Fatemeh were given ten-year sentences, while Mehdi Rokhparvar was given a five-year sentence, all under the charge of “acting against national security by forming a house-church”. Their appeals were rejected in January 2021.

Simin lived in Canada with her son until she decided to return home last year after hearing that her father had died and her mother was terminally ill. Her husband, who did not join her in Canada, had hoped her that her conviction would be quashed but she was arrested on her return and has been in prison since September. She was sent first to Qarchak Women’s Prison, and was transferred to Evin once it had been repaired following a missile strike during the twelve-day war with Israel.

The three Christians who were sentenced alongside Simin are not in prison: Fatemeh was released on bail at the same time as Simin, while Mehdi Akbari and Mehdi Rokhparvar were granted early release, in September 2024 and February 2023 respectively.

(Article 18)

Photo: Article 18