Christian prisoners in Iran risk death and serious injury, as war continues

Conditions are reported to be particularly severe in Tehran’s infamous Evin prison. At least 16 Christians are known to be held there, among a larger number of prisoners of conscience.

Among them are several Christians in their 60s, such as Joseph Shahbazian, an Iranian-Armenian pastor, and the known Christian convert Nasser Navard Gol-Tapeh, who was struck by guards last year while in solitary confinement.

The concern comes from Stefanus Alliance partner Article18, a religious freedom organization that documents violations of freedom of belief in Iran, particularly against Christians.

Prisons damaged and in chaos

According to local news reports from DW Persian, the leadership at Evin prison is in serious disorder. Staff have locked doors and evacuated certain wards. This prevents prisoners, who have to pay for their own necessities while incarcerated, from purchasing food.

After the prison was hit by a missile last June, several prisoners where transferred to other institutions, among them Greater Tehran Penitentiary. There, they were held in overcrowded rooms and unhygienic conditions.

Last week the penitentiary was damaged in an attack, and BBC Persian reported prisoners being shot at by guards.

“The administrative building was severely damaged, windows were broken, and several prison walls were destroyed,” a BBC source said. “All the prisoners rushed out and the guards suppressed them severely, and I don’t know how many were injured or killed, because the officers were shooting heavily.”

One Christian prisoner, Aida Najaflou, was also transferred. She is currently on medical furlough from prison after breaking her back in captivity. She reported that she and other female prisoners were transferred to Qarchak women’s prison. She sais it occurred in “such a disgraceful manner, handcuffed”, and that the women were “suffering without clean water, cooling, or heating, lacking hygiene and proper food, entangled and helpless”.

Risking death or serious injury

Human rights groups are sounding the alarm. The Center for Human Rights in Iran has called for “governments worldwide and international organisations to urgently use every available diplomatic and political channel to press Iranian authorities to release all political prisoners and detainees and to ensure that no executions are carried out during this period of conflict”. 

Earlier this month, Amnesty International said both adults and children who are prisoners in Iran risk death or serious injury amid the air strikes. Prisoners, they said, are both at risk from the attacks themselves, which have been happening near compounds where prisoners are held, and because of the choices of Iranian authorities.

“Iranian authorities’ refusal to release all those arbitrarily detained and grant humanitarian release to others imprisoned is knowingly placing those prisoners at risk of death or serious harm”, Amnesty says, calling for urgent action.

The organization also says “Some prisoners have been transferred to unidentified locations or areas near potential military objectives,” and that “authorities are also subjecting prisoners to enforced disappearance and denying them access to adequate food and water”.

This intensifies concern for the safety of Iran’s prisoners of conscience, including known Christians.

Written by Johannes Morken, first published March 13 2026.