Additional Name(s): محمد وفادار
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Acquitted
Sentence: Originally 5 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: May/28/2020
Date of Sentencing: October/13/2019
Date of Release: January/1/2022
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Practicing Religion as a Convert Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Illegal Assembly
Mohammed Vafadar was imprisoned for practicing his religion as a convert.
On February 15, 2019, authorities arrested Vafadar at a house-church. Other members of the Church of Iran in Rasht were reportedly arrested around the same time.
In March 2019, Vafadar was released on bail pending trial.
On October 13, 2019, Vafadar was sentenced to five years in prison for “assembling and colluding to act against national security" (Art. 610 IPC).
In March 2020, Vafadar's appeal was rejected after he and his lawyer were reportedly not allowed to attend the hearing.
On May 28, 2020, Vafadar was reportedly summoned to begin serving his sentence at Evin Prison.
On January 1, 2022, Vafadar was reportedly conditionally released from Evin Prison pending a review of his case.
In February 2022, a court of appeals acquitted Vafadar.
Photo attributed to Article 18
"Case closed: Christians’ house-church worship was not ‘action against national security" Article 18
"Nine Christian converts conditionally released following Supreme Court ruling" Article 18
"Mohammad Vafadar" United For Iran
"4 Iranian Christian converts detained to serve 5-year prison term in Tehran" Iran News Wire
2020 Report on International Religious Freedom: Iran U.S. Department of State
"Christian converts lose appeals against five-year sentences" Article 18
"Nine Christian converts given five-year sentences" Article 18
"Arrests of Rasht Christians continue, taking total to 9 in a month" Article 18