Heavy sentences handed to Iranian dissidents

Hengameh Shahidi

Hengameh Shahidi, Iranian journalist has been sentenced to six years imprisonment in the appeals court. Ms. Shahidi, who had been released on bail in October of 2009, was recalled by the court last week and imprisoned again.

Hengameh Shahidi is a member of the reformist party Etemad-e Melli and Mehdi Karroubi’s adviser on women and international issues.

She suffers from heart complications and was under serious psychological and mental pressures while in prison.

Heavy prison terms were also handed to two student activists today. Ali Kantouri was handed a 15-year prison sentence for the charge of “propaganda, collusion and activities against national security.”

Omid Montazeri, another post-election detainees was sentenced to six years in prison. The Alame Tabatabai University law student was arrested when he was inquiring about the arrest of his mother at the Ministry of Intelligence.