Answered Prayer in Iran: A House-Church Convert Pardoned — While a Grandmother Faces 13 Years
Open Doors reports Hannah Gholami freed in an amnesty and a sick prisoner granted medical leave. But Lida Alexani has been summoned to start a 13-year sentence, and women in Evin are being denied visits — and Bibles
The short answer
According to Open Doors UK (28 October 2026), Iranian Christian convert Hannah Gholami, jailed for taking part in a house church, was pardoned on 2 October as part of a general amnesty, and imprisoned convert Mahshar Parandin was granted ten days' medical leave. At the same time, 58-year-old Lida Alexani was summoned to begin a 13-year sentence for "deviant proselytising" while her husband, Pastor Joseph Shahbazian, serves 16 years in Evin Prison; Ghazal Marzban and other women in Evin's women's ward have been denied visits.
In Iran, following Jesus as a convert from Islam can be treated as a threat to national security. Open Doors' October update shows both sides of what that means: prayers answered — and more believers heading into prison.
Reasons to Give Thanks
- Hannah Gholami, 36, was jailed for taking part in a house church. Arrested three Christmases ago, she had served around half of a two-year sentence when she was told on 2 October that she had been pardoned in a general amnesty.
- Mahshar Parandin, an artist and mother in her 50s whose charges remain unknown, has been granted ten days' medical leave. Her prison doctor reportedly said she needs heart tests and surgery for two growing tumours.
"Iranian convert Hannah Gholami was pardoned in an amnesty — an answered prayer — but grandmother Lida Alexani faces 13 years and her pastor husband 16, and women in Evin Prison are being denied visits and Bibles."
Click to copy and shareReasons to Keep Praying
- Lida Alexani, a 58-year-old grandmother, has been summoned to begin a 13-year sentence for "deviant proselytising" and "gathering and collusion." Her husband, Pastor Joseph Shahbazian, has been in Evin Prison since February 2025, serving 16 years for leading a house church.
- Ghazal Marzban, serving nearly ten years, is among more than 20 women in Evin's women's ward denied visitors as punishment for protesting conditions. She has also been refused a Bible — apparently because only Christians born into Christian families are allowed one.
- Elnaz Ghorbani and Sohrab Ghavidel have fled Iran. Sohrab endured nine days of psychological torture after arrest before being bailed and escaping.
Why Converts Are Targeted
Open Doors explains that Armenian and Assyrian Christians are tolerated to a degree, so long as they don't share their faith. Persian-language church services have been shut down since 2009, pushing converts into underground house churches — which are then raided. Aid to the Church in Need's 2026 report found arrests of Christians in Iran doubled in a year.
The Church Keeps Going
Open Doors tells the story of "Foad" (name changed), a convert who prayed, "Lord, here I am, send me," without even the money to travel. Weeks ago, a mother with cancer came into his workplace with her son. He prayed for her; both wanted to know more about Jesus.
"Even in these difficult and uncertain times, when we put our trust in God, the blessings we experience are even greater than those we receive on ordinary, mundane days." — "Foad," an Iranian believer
Pray
Thank God for Hannah's freedom. Pray for Lida and Pastor Joseph, for Ghazal and the women of Evin, for Elnaz and Sohrab in exile, and for Iran's house churches not to be scattered by fear.
Iranian convert Hannah Gholami was pardoned in an amnesty — an answered prayer — but grandmother Lida Alexani faces 13 years and her pastor husband 16, and women in Evin Prison are being denied visits and Bibles.
Biblical Perspective
"Remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison" (Hebrews 13:3). Paul wrote from his own chains: "I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained" (2 Timothy 2:9).
"But God's word is not chained."
— 2 Timothy 2:9 (NIV)
Pray With Us
Father, thank You for Hannah's freedom and for Mahshar's leave. Sustain Lida and Pastor Joseph as their family is separated again. Restore visits, medicine and Bibles to the women of Evin. Protect Elnaz and Sohrab in exile, and let the house churches of Iran keep trusting and obeying Jesus. Amen.
Declarations to Speak
- ›God's word is not chained!
- ›Iran's church will not be scattered by fear!
- ›Prayer opens prison doors!
Take Action
- 1Thank God by name for Hannah Gholami's release.
- 2Pray daily this week for Lida Alexani and Pastor Joseph Shahbazian.
- 3Pray that Ghazal Marzban and the women of Evin receive visits and a Bible.
"Answered prayer in Iran: house-church convert Hannah Gholami pardoned. But a grandmother faces 13 years and women in Evin are denied Bibles. Keep praying."
Pray & Speak Life Over This Story
Don't just read — respond in faith. Click below to declare that you have prayed over this story and spoken life into it. Our prayers and words have power to change the world.
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue." — Proverbs 18:21
Your Prayers & Words Have Power
Every time you pray over a story and speak life, you are partnering with Heaven to see God's Kingdom come on earth. When believers around the world agree in prayer, mountains move. Keep praying over these matters — your consistency in intercession is changing the world.
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." — James 5:16
Prayer Is Powerful — So Is Action.
You've prayed. Now take it further. Join or start an outreach group in your area and take the love of Jesus to the streets. Every act of love, every meal shared, every prayer prayed in person is the Kingdom advancing in your community.
"Faith without works is dead." — James 2:26
Questions people are asking
Why are Christians imprisoned in Iran?
+
Iran treats evangelism and house churches — especially among converts from Islam — as threats to national security. Persian-language church services have been shut down since 2009, so converts meet in underground house churches, which are raided; believers are charged with offences such as "propaganda" or "deviant proselytising."
Who is Hannah Gholami?
+
An Iranian Christian convert, 36, jailed for taking part in a house church. According to Open Doors, she was pardoned on 2 October 2026 as part of a general amnesty after serving around half of a two-year sentence.
Sources & further reading
- 1.Joy and pain: updates from IranOpen Doors UK & Ireland
About the Author
Daniel Ziedins
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Daniel Ziedins is the founder and editor-in-chief of Thy Kingdom News. A passionate believer with a heart for revival, missions, and seeing God's Kingdom advance across the earth, Daniel created this platform to report on what God is doing in the nations — the stories the mainstream media won't tell. He is also the creator of LoveOnTheWorldMap.com, a global initiative to map acts of God's love worldwide. Daniel believes that every testimony, every revival report, and every prayer answered is evidence that the Kingdom of God is here and advancing.
"But God's word is not chained."
2 Timothy 2:9 (NIV)
Get encouraging Kingdom news, testimonies, and prayer points weekly.
Related Stories
What Is the Underground Church? House Churches Under Pressure, Explained
An underground or house church is a congregation that meets privately — in homes, garages or other unofficial places — because public worship is restricted or dangerous. Here's where they are (China, Iran, North Korea, Algeria and beyond), why they exist, how they survive and how to pray for them.
Persecution Worsened in 10 of 18 Countries — and Improved in None, ACN's 2026 Report Finds
ACN's latest Persecuted and Forgotten? report, covering August 2024 to June 2026, found conditions for Christians deteriorated in 10 of the 18 countries it examined — including China, Nigeria and Pakistan — and improved overall in none.
The Double Life of Malay Christians: Faith That Can't Be Written Down
Article 160 of Malaysia's constitution defines ethnic Malays as Muslim. Malay Christians like "Deborah" and "Lukas" can't be baptised or marry in church, avoid anywhere that asks for ID, and risk "rehabilitation" if exposed.