ABC blog

Mohammad Mahdavifar, an Iranian activist serving a two-year sentence at Isfahan Central Prison, has been made to stand trial in a new, separate case for the charges of “insulting the Supreme Leader,” “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic,” and “propaganda against the government”[1].

The Criminal Court of Aran va Beidgol County had previously sentenced Mahdavifar to two years’ incarceration and a 40 million rial (c. 950 USD) fine on charges of “spreading lies for the purpose of sowing anxiety among the public” and “contact with foreign governments” in February/March of 2018.

The new, separate case against Mahdavifar comprises two sets of charges. For the first – “being an accomplice in the spreading of lies” – Branch 101 of Criminal Court Two of Aran va Beidgol County awarded him an additional eight months in prison on July 29, 2018.

Proceedings for the second set of charges mentioned above – “insulting the Supreme Leader,” “insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic,” and “propaganda against the government” – commenced September 2 at Branch One of the Aran va Beidgol Revolutionary Court. Mahdavifar’s lawyer, Mohamamd Najafi, said that evidence entered by prosecution in the case includes “critical letters addressed to Ayatollah Khamenei which Mahdavifar wrote and published on his own [Telegram] channels” and “reports of the Ministry of Information and Basij offices in Kashan.”

Lawyer Najafi stated that the court would issue sentence in the coming days.

Mahdavifar is being held in the general ward of Isfahan Central Prison along with prisoners affected by drug addiction in violation of regulations stipulating that political prisoners be segregated from other inmates. There is concern that second smoke from such inmates could pose a serious threat to Mahdavifar’s health, given respiratory problems he has suffered from since surviving a chemical weapons attack during the Iran-Iraq war. Officials have denied his repeated requests to be transferred to another location.

Mahdavifar has previously faced prosecution for writing and reciting critical poetry, an offense for which he was sentenced to ten months in prison and a fine.

[1] Human Rights Activists News Agency, September 2, 2018