Additional Name(s): Mahrokh Kanbari, Mahrokh Qanbari, ماهرخ قنبری
Gender: Female
Perpetrator: Iran
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 1 Year's Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October//2019
Date of Release: April//2020
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: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials
Mahrokh Ghanbari was imprisoned for practicing her religion as a convert.
In July 2019, authorities reportedly arrested Ghanbari. She was later released on bail. She was reportedly denied access to a lawyer.
Later that same month, Ghanbari was reportedly sentenced to one year in prison for "propaganda against the state" (Art. 500 IPC).
On August 2, 2019, Vice President Mike Pence called for Ghanbari's release.
In October 2019, it was reported that Ghanbari had been taken into state custody to begin serving her sentence.
In March 2020, Ghanbari was released on furlough in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In April 2020, Ghanbari was fully released from prison in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Nowruz holiday.
Ganbari had been previously arrested in 2018 in relation to her religious activity.
Photo attributed to Article 18
"Mahrokh Ghanbari" United For Iran
"Christian convert, 62, released from prison, leave extended for two others" Article 18
Vice President Mike Pence, Tweet, August 2, 2019