When a Christian with Heart Problems Asked for a Doctor, He Was Beaten in Prison

Text: Aricle 18 and Stefanus Alliance

The imprisoned Christian convert Amir-Ali Minaei suffers from a heart condition. When he requested to be examined by a cardiologist, he was struck in the chest. 

“We are outraged that Amir-Ali has been denied medical treatment—especially by the abuse he has suffered. We demand that the Iranian authorities ensure the prison officer responsible is held accountable for his crimes,” says Mansour Borji, director of Article 18. 

Article 18 documents violations of religious freedom for Christians in Iran and is supported by the Stefanus Alliance. 

Concerned for His Health 

Borji expresses deep concern for the health of Amir-Ali, a 31-year-old man from Tehran who has been imprisoned in Evin Prison since April last year. 

Amir-Ali is serving a sentence of three years and seven months. He was convicted of what the court described as “propaganda activities against the regime through establishing a house church.” The sentence was handed down in March 2024 by the notorious Judge Iman Afshari in Iran’s Revolutionary Court. 

Judge Afshari also ruled that Amir-Ali would lose all social rights—such as membership in any organization—after his eventual release. 

Developed Heart Condition After Detention 

Amir-Ali was first arrested in December 2023. He was held for over two months in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is under the control of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence. 

He was later released on bail equivalent to around $10,000, following a series of intense interrogations. 

Amir-Ali’s heart condition was diagnosed sometime between his release on bail and his imprisonment in April 2024. It is believed that the condition is directly linked to the stress he endured during his initial detention and the looming threat of further imprisonment in Evin Prison. 

Nevertheless, all requests for referral to a cardiologist have been denied. After his most recent request in March 2025, Amir-Ali was even struck in the chest by a prison officer. As a result, the condition of the 31-year-old Christian prisoner has worsened, reports Article 18. 

Article 18 has been able to verify the identity of the prison officer—his name is Mehdi Salimi. 

Still Denied Medical Care 

Despite the abuse, Amir-Ali has still not been referred to a cardiologist. Mansour Borji, director of Article 18, fears that the 31-year-old’s condition may deteriorate further in the coming weeks. The Persian New Year is approaching, a time when access to basic medical services becomes even more limited due to the holiday period. 

Amir-Ali applied for conditional release in January. However, the request was blocked by agents from the Ministry of Intelligence, who claimed his “lack of cooperation” with them as the reason. 

Forced to Cooperate

 Mansour Borji of Article 18 explains: 
“Prisoners are often forced to accept extrajudicial conditions in order to benefit from measures such as temporary leave, pardons, or early release. Authorities and interrogators seek to exploit these individuals as informants or ‘collaborators.’ They demand that, upon release, the prisoners resume their daily lives while secretly gathering intelligence on other Christians and their activities. 

This practice constitutes a form of coercion that further violates the prisoners’ rights and exposes them to ongoing surveillance and undue pressure,” says Borji. 

Calling for Amir-Ali’s Release 

Borji emphasizes that Amir-Ali is a young Christian man whose only “crime” was gathering with fellow believers. 

“We demand his immediate and unconditional release. We also call on the Iranian authorities to stop targeting house churches and instead recognize them for what they are: the only places where Iranian Christians who wish to worship in their native language can come together to pray. 

The officially recognized churches of Iran’s Armenian and Assyrian minorities are not accessible to Persian-speaking believers,” says Borji. 

Imprisoned While Pregnant 

Amir-Ali’s story comes just after news broke that three Christian converts were sentenced on 8 March to a combined total of 40 years in prison. A pregnant woman received the longest sentence: Narges Nasri, who is halfway through her first pregnancy, was sentenced to 16 years in prison—the longest prison term ever given to a Christian woman in Iran. 

Behind this and the two other sentences stands the same judge who sentenced Amir-Ali: the notorious Imam Afshari of the Revolutionary Court. Five of Nasri’s prison years were for "membership in" a house church. 

“This ruling also shows that it’s not only house church leaders or network coordinators who are being sentenced. Simply being a member can result in lengthy imprisonment,” says Borji.