Court in Abhar Sentences Injured War Veteran Protester to 13 Years in Prison

A court in Abhar sentenced a war veteran protester, who lost both legs in the Iran-Iraq war, to 13 years in prison. According to HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, the charges against Mohammadvali Heydarbiqi include 'collaboration with a hostile government,' 'propaganda against the regime,' 'insulting the leadership,' and 'conspiracy and collusion against national security and membership in opposition groups.' The Iranian Human Rights Association previously reported on his arrest during the protests in 2022, highlighting the 'fabrication of charges' and the rejection of his chosen lawyer by the presiding judge. Mohammadvali Heydarbiqi was detained on November 19, 2022, and held for a time in the Zanjan Intelligence Detention Center before being transferred to Zanjan's Zeroabad Prison. During his month-long imprisonment, he went on a hunger strike in protest of the lack of attention to his demands. He was eventually released on bail of one billion tomans on December 14. According to HRANA, if his sentence is upheld in the appeals court, the maximum punishment of five years in prison will be applicable to this war veteran who is over 70% disabled. Meanwhile, the Basij news agency had previously praised Mohammadvali Heydarbiqi for his financial assistance in freeing prisoners of non-violent crimes, noting that he lost both legs during Operation Karbala 5 in the Iran-Iraq war. Kouser Otaghari, an eye-injured protester, reported the issuance of a prison sentence for him and the likelihood of its enforcement. Hojjat Badaghi was summoned to the Culture and Media Prosecutor's Office for 'serving his sentence.' Nine others were arrested in Zahedan; reports of torture of a Baloch citizen in a Zahedan police station were confirmed. Judicial officials of the Islamic Republic are refusing to provide treatment for political prisoner Zeinab Jalalian.