Iranian human rights lawyer sentenced to imprisonment

Iranian human rights lawyer, Mohammad Oliayifard has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Islamic Republic Judiciary.

Oliayifard’s attorney informed ISNA that his client has been accused of “propaganda against the regime” for giving an interview with foreign media about the file of juvenile offender, Behnoud Shojai who was hanged in November of 2009 by Iranian authorities.

Mohammd Oliayifard had taken on the defence of a number of juvenile offenders in recent years, amongst them Behnoud Shojai.

Currently 130 juvenile offenders are on death row in Iran and Iran hold one of the highest rates of executing juvenile offenders in the world.

Mohammad Oliayifard has already been taken into custody to serve his sentence.

In the past months of protests to the outcome of the disputed June presidential elections, a number of Iranian court attorneys have been arrested.

In connection with news regarding Iranian post-election detainees, reformist website Jaras reports that two post-election detainees were killed in a road accident as they were being transferred to the Revolutionary court. A prison guard was also killed in the incidents and an accompanying soldier is currently in coma at the hospital.

Human Rights Reporters Committee also reports that Sousan MohammadKhani Ghiasvand, Iranian scriptwriter was arrested last night.

Reportedly, security officers arrested her at her home in Karaj. There is no clear information regarding her charges and her whereabouts.

Sousan MohammadKhani Ghiasvand is also active in various Kurdish cultural issues.