Iranian judiciary upholds prison sentences for election detainees

The Islamic Republic appellate courts upheld the prison sentences of prominent post-election detainees, Mohammad Nourizad and Mohsen Mirdamadi.

IRNA state news agency reports that Nourizad is sentenced to three and a half years in prison and fifty lashes.

The detained journalist and filmmaker received one year imprisonment for “propaganda against the regime and distortion of the regime’s 30-year image.”

He also received another two year for “insulting the Supreme Leader”, 91 days for “insulting the president”.' another 91 days for “insulting the Head of the Judiciary” and fifty lashes for “insulting the Friday Mass Prayers Leader of Mashhad.”

The family of the detained writer claim the Prosecutor-General of Tehran, Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi led them to believe that if they helped break Mohammad Nourizad’s hunger strike, he would secure his release. His family claims that they have been deceived by the Prosecutor-General who “feared international and media publicity” around Nourizad's hunger strike

The appellate court also approved Mohsen Mirdamadi’s sentence which consisted of six years imprisonment and a ten-year ban from political and media activities.

The Secretary General of the reformist organization, Islamic Iran Participation Front, was arrested in the post election events and put to trial after months in jail.

He is accused of “assembly and collusion against National Security” and “propaganda activities against the regime.”

He was released temporarily last March but taken back to Evin Prison last week.