Joseph Shahbazian

<p>Joseph Shahbazian is a former member of the Rabbani church in Tehran. He was arrested along with a large number of Christians in the summer of 2020.</p>

He was identified as the leader of the house church in Yaft Abad. <symbol-timeline></symbol-timeline>

<coverage-outsourcing id='31861'> <reference source='https://articleeighteen.com/fa/news/2680/'> According to the reports, in a coordinated operation in two days, the security forces arrested and interrogated dozens of Christians in Tehran, Karaj, and Malayer. Except for a few, most were released a few days later on bail. At least 10 Christians have been charged with assembly and collusion to act against national security. Some of those individuals were assaulted and beaten at the time of the arrest. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='31862'> <reference source='https://articleeighteen.com/fa/news/2804/'> His bail was set at 30 billion rials and he is still in prison. His bail was set at 3 billion Rials initially but when the family arrived at the court to pay it, they told the family that they had written the bail number wrong and it was actually 30 billion Rials. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='32233'> <reference source='https://articleeighteen.com/fa/news/3095/'> He was released on bail </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='39795'> <reference source='https://articleeighteen.com/fa/news/12413/?fs=e&s=cl'> Branch 26 of the revolutionary court presided by Judge Iman Afshari sentenced Joseph Shahbazian to 10 years in prison, Maliheh Nazari and Mina Khajavi each to six years in prison, Salar Eshraghi Moghadam and Somayeh Sadegh each to four years in prison, Masoumeh Ghasemi and Farhad Khazaei each to one year in prison. Joseph Shahbazian, Mina Khajavi, and Maliheh Nazari were accused of forming and managing illegal groups intending to undermine national security. Mr. Shahbazian was also banned from joining social and political groups for two years. After that two years, he must spend another two years in exile in Kahnouch or a neighboring country. He was also banned from leaving the country for two years. Salar Eshraghi Mighadam, Masoumeh Ghasemi, and Farhad Khazaei have also been charged with membership in illegal groups. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='41328'> <reference source='https://articleeighteen.com/fa/news/12881/'> Branch 36 of the appeal court of Tehran province confirmed the sentences of Joseph SHahbazian, Maliheh Nazari, and Mina Khajavi verbatim. The appeal court fined Somayeh Sadegh 400 million Rials and Masoumeh Ghasemi 240 million rials. According to their attorney, the court did not hold a session and ignored the extensive evidence-based defense. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='41651'> <reference source='https://articleeighteen.com/fa/news/12957/'> After arriving at the sentence enforcement office of Evin, Joseph Shahbazian was arrested and taken to Evin Prison to serve his sentence. Mr. Shahbazian and three other Christian citizens were summoned to serve their sentences. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='49833'> <reference source='https://articleeighteen.com/fa/news/13726/'> The supreme court accepted the retrial request of Joseph Shahbazian and referred his case to a court of the same rank. The supreme court ruling states that "there is no evidence, document, or reason provided to prove that the individual was the leader of the group" and "therefore the maximum punishment is judicially problematic." </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>