Iranian human rights activist Arash Sadeghi has been sentenced to more than five years in prison amid protests sparked by the death in custody of a young woman, his lawyer told AFP on Saturday.
Aged 36 and suffering from bone cancer, the activist was released on bail on January 21 after more than three months of detention in Evin prison in Tehran.
"
My client was sentenced to five years in prison for collusion against the security of the country and eight months for propaganda against the Islamic Republic
", announced Me Ramin Safarnia.
Mr. Sadeghi did not appear before the Revolutionary Court, which delivered its decision in absentia, according to his defence.
“
The verdict was notified to us on Wednesday, and we have 20 days to oppose it
,” said Me Safarnia.
Prior to his recent detention, Arash Sadeghi had spent several years in prison for "
security-related offences
", before being released in May 2021 on health grounds.
"
I hope that the court will take into account the state of health of my client because he cannot bear the imprisonment
", said Me Safarnia.
The activist was arrested in mid-October during protests rocking the country since the September 16 death of Mahsa Amini, a young Iranian Kurd, arrested three days earlier by police for violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress code.
Authorities generally refer to the protests as "
riots
" encouraged by countries and organizations hostile to Iran.
They claim that hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, were killed during the protests and thousands more arrested.
