When COVID-19 first came onto the scene, jails began emptying as part of Iran’s con­tainment effort. While only a small number of Christians were included, the situation was unprecedented as arrests came to an abrupt stop. Court cases against believers were delayed. Sentences against Christians were dismissed. Iran briefly entered a new era.

However, these positive changes proved short-lived. They came to an abrupt halt when Iran issued an extremely harsh criminal sen­tence against Mary Mohammadi, one that had not been seen in the country for two years.

Mary is a rare example of a Christian activ­ist living inside Iran. A young convert residing in Tehran, she frequently speaks out about Iran’s human rights abuses. Because of her activism, she has faced multiple arrests.

She was last detained in January; but while her case was delayed by the pandemic, her sen­tence remained shocking. The judge issued a three-month suspended prison sentence and a directive ordering that Mary receive a flogging of 10 lashes. Read more: bit.ly/2H5J2PU … See MoreSee Less