Iranian Court Sentences Catholic Convert Ghazal Marzban to Nearly Ten Years in Prison
An Iranian court sentenced Ghazal Marzban, a 42-year-old Catholic convert, to nine years and eight months in prison in May 2026. She was arrested at her Tehran home in January and charged with propaganda against the state and collusion against national security. Human rights groups say the case is part of a broader crackdown on Christian converts across Iran.
Ghazal Marzban, a 42-year-old Catholic convert and former law student, received a sentence of nine years and eight months from Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in May 2026. Iranian authorities arrested her at her home on January 15, 2026.
The charges against her include "propaganda against the state" and "assembly and collusion with the intent to disrupt national security." Human rights organization Hengaw reported the sentence and noted that Marzban has faced legal persecution before, including a detention in 2024.
Her case drew additional attention because authorities reportedly denied her husband access to medication for his Parkinson's disease during the legal proceedings.
Middle East Concern, a Christian advocacy group, confirmed the sentence and said it reflects a pattern of targeting house-church participants and converts. Under Iranian law, conversion from Islam is prohibited, and proselytization can carry penalties of up to ten years in prison.
Marzban is not the only convert facing prison time. In December 2025, five other Christian converts received combined sentences totaling more than 50 years on similar charges. Nayereh Arjaneh began serving a five-year sentence in December 2025 after attending a Christian training event in Turkey.
Open Doors, which tracks Christian persecution globally, ranks Iran among the top ten most dangerous countries for Christians. The organization says arrests of converts have increased sharply since 2023.
Church leaders outside Iran have called on governments to raise the cases of imprisoned converts in diplomatic talks with Tehran. So far, Iranian authorities have not responded to international pressure on the Marzban case.
