Catholic convert sentenced to over nine years’ imprisonment in Iran

Ghazal Marzban, a convert from Islam to Christianity, lives in Iran and faces a prison sentence of nine years and eight months on charges including “propaganda against the state” and “gathering and collusion against national security”.

Ghazal was arrested at her home in Tehran last January and has been convicted and sentenced by Judge Iman Afshari of the 26th Revolutionary Court.

According to Iranian rights organization Article 18, following her conversion, Ghazal – an Islamic law graduate – was prevented from taking her bar examination and her husband has been unable to obtain medication to manage Parkinson’s disease.

Ghazal had previously spent two months in Evin prison in 2024 on propaganda charges for chanting slogans against the regime.