Appeal Filed Against Seven and a Half Year Prison Sentence for Mohammad Habibi

The defense attorney for Mohammad Habibi, a imprisoned member of the Teachers' Trade Association, announced the filing of an appeal against the Revolutionary Court's verdict sentencing his client to seven and a half years in prison. Hossein Taj expressed hope in an interview with ISNA that this appeal would soon be submitted to the appeals court. Mr. Habibi was arrested on May 9 during a protest gathering of educators in front of the Organization for Planning and Budget in Tehran. He is currently imprisoned in Fashafouyeh Prison and has been sentenced to seven and a half years for 'gathering and colluding to commit a crime against national security,' 18 months for 'propaganda against the regime,' and 18 months for 'disruption of public order.' Previously, Amir Reyssian, another defense attorney for Mohammad Habibi, stated on July 4 that according to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, all of Habibi's sentences have been increased by one and a half times, and the most severe punishment is applicable. According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, enacted in 2013, 'In crimes subject to ta'zir, if the committed crimes do not exceed three, the court shall impose the maximum penalty for each of those crimes, and if the committed crimes exceed three, the punishment for each shall be determined to exceed the maximum legal penalty, provided it does not exceed the maximum plus half of that.' In all of the above cases, only the most severe punishment is enforceable, and if the most severe punishment is reduced or converted or becomes unenforceable for any legal reason, the next most severe punishment shall be enforced. According to this report, the Revolutionary Court also imposed additional penalties on Mohammad Habibi, including a two-year ban on political and social party activities and a ban on leaving the country. According to ISNA, Hossein Taj also mentioned that in his meetings with 'officials,' he has requested attention to his client's medical situation and added: 'Our other request has been that, given the confirmation of the political and security charges against my client, he should be transferred to Evin Prison.' This defense attorney added: 'According to the regulations of the Prisons Organization and the classification conditions for prisoners, Mr. Habibi should be held in Evin Prison, not in Fashafouyeh Prison in Greater Tehran, especially under the conditions that everyone is aware of.' Previously, reports about the poor conditions of Fashafouyeh Prison have been published by some civil and human rights activists. Mr. Taj, in part of his remarks, noted that the negotiation process regarding Mohammad Habibi has always been positive and promises have been made, but unfortunately, no effective action has been taken in this regard to date. In recent years, labor activists, including teachers' rights activists, have faced security and judicial crackdowns. Among them, Esmail Abdi and Mohammad Beheshti Langroudi, members of the Teachers' Trade Association board, are imprisoned on security charges.