Hakup Gochumian, an Armenian citizen, was sentenced to ten years in prison

According to the reports received by the Article 18 organization, Hakup Gochomian, an Armenian citizen, who was arrested in Iran last summer, and is imprisoned in Evin prison, on the charge of "deviant educational and propaganda activities contrary to the holy Islamic law through membership and orientation of the Christian network" Tabshiri in the country" was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Hakup Gochumian, 35, was arrested in August of last year along with his wife and has been in custody since then.
This Armenian citizen was sentenced to prison on March 14, 1402 by Iman Afshari, Judge of Branch 26 of Tehran Revolutionary Court. In the past years, Iman Afshari has sent many Christians to prison with heavy sentences because of their religious beliefs and peaceful religious activities.
While merging the case of Mr. Hakopian, with several other arrests, the judicial officials have issued a verdict for all ten Christian citizens accused in the case. Article 18 organization is not allowed to publish the names of other Christians mentioned in the file.
The defendants in this case were sentenced to a total of 42 years in prison, 500 million Tomans fine, deprivation of fifth degree social rights, and significant confiscation of their property. For five of these Christian citizens, additional punishments have been added, including the ban on leaving the country, the ban on membership in political and social organizations or groups, and the ban on staying in Tehran province and nearby provinces for two years.
Judgment of the Court of Appeal
According to sources close to Mr. Gochumian, "the judge of branch 36 of the Court of Appeals of Tehran Province, by rejecting the appeal and the legal and well-founded defenses of Mr. Gochumian's lawyer, and without providing sufficient reasons, on June 9 of this year, confirmed the verdict of the lower court. »
According to the same sources, this Armenian citizen did not have access to a translator and did not have the necessary familiarity with the Persian language to properly understand the accusations and respond to them.
Among the accusations of Mr. Hakop Gochumian are having seven volumes of the Bible in Persian language at home, twice visiting Christian homes and Armenian churches. Mr. Gochumian's explanation that he brought the books as a gift at the request of his Armenian friends because it is easier for them to read the Bible in Persian than in Armenian was not accepted by the court and judicial officials.
Armenian-speaking churches are allowed to operate, and participating and attending them is not considered a crime. However, the Revolutionary Court has criminalized Mr. Gochumian's "presence" in an official Armenian-speaking church or as a guest in the home of Christian hosts, even without participating in any church activities.
The government of the Islamic Republic has closed the Farsi-speaking churches and harasses the converts by attacking Christian homes and house churches. Contrary to government propaganda, Armenians and Assyrians who participate in prayer meetings, Bible readings and even parties with Christian converts are attacked and arrested. One of these citizens is Anoushavan Odian, who has been imprisoned in Evin since the end of September 1402 for ten years of imprisonment due to peaceful religious activity.