Case Fabrication in Prison; Mehdi Maskinnavaz Sentenced to Eleven Years in Prison

Mehdi Maskinnavaz, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to eleven years in prison by the Tehran Revolutionary Court in relation to a case opened against him during his incarceration. The Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran reported that Mr. Maskinnavaz was sentenced to ten years for the charge of 'forming a group with the intent to disrupt national security' and one year for 'propaganda against the regime.' If this ruling is upheld in the appeal stage, the harsher punishment of ten years will be applicable to him. On Sunday, April 8 of this year, he was transferred from Greater Tehran Prison to Evin Prison along with dozens of other political and ideological prisoners, and the court session regarding his new charges was held in May at Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. Mehdi Maskinnavaz was arrested in May 2019 by security forces in Bandar Anzali for 'activities in cyberspace and managing a Telegram channel with a subversive theme.' This constitutional monarchist prisoner was sentenced on December 9 of the same year by Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran to a total of 13 years and two months in prison, two years of forced residence in Faharj, Kerman, and a ban on membership in political parties and groups for charges including 'gathering and collusion, acting against national security, insulting the leadership, and propaganda against the regime.' Details of the charges against Mr. Maskinnavaz included 'communication with expatriates, training in graffiti writing, how to act in street protests,' as well as 'uploading content and posts in cyberspace and on the Telegram channel.' According to the HRANA news agency, Mr. Maskinnavaz, who had previously been sentenced to 7.5 years in prison, should have been eligible for amnesty and the closure of his case since he had served 4 years and 4 months of his sentence without leave. However, due to new charges and case fabrication during his imprisonment, he remained deprived of freedom. Mehdi Maskinnavaz, born in 1979, is married and the father of a 17-year-old daughter. Asal Maskinnavaz, Mehdi's daughter, is currently free on bail. A source close to Mehdi Maskinnavaz's family told Voice of America on April 1 of this year that the IRGC had contacted Asal Maskinnavaz and informed her that she would not be granted amnesty and that her father's case would be reopened. According to this informed source, 17-year-old Asal Maskinnavaz was interrogated on Tuesday, April 11, at Branch 3 of the Juvenile Court, and her request to appoint a lawyer was denied. The New Year message from 11 constitutional monarchist political activists called for understanding regarding the constitutional law. A call from Mehdi Maskinnavaz from prison stated: 'If the doors of the Islamic Republic's prisons open, your dignity will be lost.' The continued pressure on the family of a political prisoner; Mehdi Maskinnavaz's deprivation of contact. The New Year message from 11 constitutional monarchists states that the current situation is the result of 'the deviation of constitutionalism.' The transfer of Mehdi Maskinnavaz to Ward 209 of Evin coincided with the arrest of his 17-year-old daughter Asal. Ahmad Raghb from prison: 'The backbone of the Velayat-e Faqih system is shaking from trade union and political activities.'