Mohammad Najafi, a lawyer in Arak, along with 10 civil activists in Arak and Shahindej, were accused of 'disturbing public order' by participating in the protests of December 2017, each sentenced to one year in prison and 74 lashes. The civil activists include Ali Bagheri, Abbas Safari, Behzad Alibakhshi, Mohammad Yaqoubi, Neda Yousefi, Youssef Shiri, Davood Rahimi, Masoud Ajalu, Mohammad Torabi, and Kian Sadeqi. Additionally, Mohammad Najafi, Ali Bagheri, Abbas Safari, and Kian Sadeqi were sentenced to two more years in prison for 'spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion.' Last December, Mohammad Najafi was released on bail after three months of detention following his reporting on Vahid Heydari, who died in custody. Vahid Heydari was one of the protesters from December 2017 who died in a detention center in Arak. Mahtab Vahidi Rad interviewed Mohammad Najafi about the details of this case and the accusations made against him.
A Lawyer's Account of Detention: 'There Was No Sign of Citizen Rights'
Mohammad Najafi, a lawyer in Arak, and 10 civil activists were sentenced for participating in protests and spreading information about a protester's death in custody. This case highlights ongoing human rights abuses and the suppression of dissent in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Mohammad Najafi and ten civil activists were sentenced to prison and lashes for participating in protests and reporting on a protester's death in custody. Najafi was additionally sentenced for spreading falsehoods.
- Mohammad Najafi and others were accused of 'disturbing public order'.
- Najafi reported on the death of Vahid Heydari, a protester who died in custody.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of suppressing protests and dissent, often using harsh legal penalties against activists and lawyers.
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Translation confidence: 85%