When Belief Becomes a Crime: Documenting Abuse of AROPL Members in Iran

Our members in Iran have faced sustained persecution by the Iranian authorities. Although the government claims to be the true followers of Imam Al-Mahdi and to govern by the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and his household, it rejected the appearance of the Qa’im, Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq, in 2015, despite his fulfilling the recognized criteria and prophecies. Since then, the authorities have aggressively targeted our Ansar. No other government has shown comparable hostility toward our peaceful religion.

In Iran, authorities have repeatedly abused our members with severe beatings, threats of sexual violence (even against minors), destruction of businesses and equipment and bail demands reaching US $100,000. Two recent cases, both in June 2025, were reported to me first-hand and have been documented.

The Case of MHR

MHR is a teacher and filmmaker from Qom, Iran. He is married and has children. He teaches English and bought a cinema camera to start making films. Before filming, he chose to narrate and translate religious texts linked to the family of Prophet Muhammad.

While working on these materials, YouTube suggested a video where he first saw Abdullah Hashem Aba Al-Sadiq. After reading and watching more, MHR became convinced that the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light was true. He decided to speak about it on his Instagram account, which had over 100,000 followers at the time. He often spoke in English to reach Christians and English-speaking Muslims.

About a week later, the Iran–Israel war began. MHR was summoned to the Special Court for the Clergy. He says officials told him to disavow the Yamani claimant and the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. They warned that, if he kept promoting the call, he could face charges such as “spreading corruption on earth,” “weakening the system,” and “disturbing public order and security.” He says authorities claimed the call was an Israeli trap and labeled Aba Al-Sadiq an Israeli agent, partly because of the Star of David symbol and claims to Prophet David’s heritage.

MHR says he is now under a kind of judicial supervision. A judge calls him at times, asks for book summaries, and sometimes demands his father’s presence. He says he was pushed to admit things he does not believe. He also says the judge claimed to have a recording of Aba Al-Sadiq telling MRH what to say, which he denies. In fact, MRH has never talked directly to Aba Al-Sadiq.

Summons letter for MRH

This pressure has changed his plans. He wanted to move out of the country with his family, but now he thinks he may need to leave alone and soon. He believes his calls are monitored and his movements watched. He says some people linked to the government have accused him of being a trained Israeli agent or a paid actor funded by the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. He rejects these claims.

In short, MRH is a young father and teacher who spoke publicly about a message he believes in. He says that choice brought summonses, threats of prosecution, supervision by a judge, and rumors against him. He still hopes to tell stories as a filmmaker, but for now, this is the story he is living.

MK: A Testimony of Faith, Detention, and Pressure

MK, an Iranian woman, says her journey began with disbelief and ended in conviction. After watching a full video of Aba Al-Sadiq and reading The Goal of the Wise, she says her faith deepened and she pledged allegiance, joining the Ansar. With limited options inside Iran, she began distributing leaflets to share what she describes as the glad tidings of the Imam Al-Mahdi’s appearance.

According to MK, three men—one identifying himself as an intelligence commander—arrived at her brother’s home and took her to a base without a female officer present. She reports poor conditions, heat and stench that made her ill, and threats from personnel. After hours alone, she was brought to an interrogation room with a female officer and the three men.

MK says the commander demanded to know why she distributed leaflets, who paid her, and with whom she was connected, shouting that he would “set her straight.” She states they examined her Instagram account and pressed her about “accomplices,” which she denied, saying she worked alone. When she cited the Prophet’s will and the banner “Al-Bay‘ah lillah,” she was told the will was not accepted and asked how else she could prove the claim. She replied that since childhood she had wished to see the Imam and now believed that wish fulfilled. She says she was then sent to a detention center.

MK reports that her health deteriorated in detention; she cried, received an IV after several hours, and could not sleep. She says officers forced her phone password, then took her to court, where a judge repeated the interrogation and charged her with “disturbing public opinion” (and another charge she cannot recall). She was told she needed 300 million tomans as bail for temporary release. Lacking funds, she was returned to detention, where she says her pain worsened and her pleas were ignored.

Her family sought collateral; a fishing license was rejected. It was a Thursday (with Friday a holiday), and, as she tells it, the court ultimately seized her brother’s car as collateral and accepted it. That evening, a judge came to the detention facility and authorized her release, instructing that she return to court.

MK recounts that at court, the judge cleared the room, told her that another judge would sentence her to execution, whereas he would reduce it to five years’ imprisonment, then “help” by lowering it to “two years plus three years of ‘service.’” She alleges the judge grabbed her hand, stared into her eyes, accused her of lacking remorse, and—under the pretext of checking for recording devices— touched her from shoulder to ankle. She describes feeling shocked and distressed, and says she feared what “three years of service” might entail. “I did not flee prison,” she later said. “I fled assault.”

Throughout her account, MK portrays herself as a believer whose expression of faith—watching religious content, reading a book, distributing leaflets—led to detention, interrogation, coercion, and intimidation. She maintains she acted alone, harmed no one, and sought only to share a message. Her narrative includes serious allegations of mistreatment and judicial misconduct that—if verified— would raise grave concerns about due process, custodial conditions, and the treatment of women in custody.

MK’s statement suggests she was released on bail backed by her brother’s vehicle and remains vulnerable to further legal action. She says she fears returning to detention given the alleged misconduct and implied threats surrounding “service.”