Farhad Mithami and Reza Khandan Sentenced to Six Years in Prison

Mohammad Moein, the lawyer for Farhad Mithami and Reza Khandan, announced that each of his two clients has been sentenced to six years in prison and two years of prohibition from activities in cyberspace and media. Mr. Moein reported in an interview with the IRNA news agency that the court ruling for Farhad Mithami and Reza Khandan was communicated on Tuesday, January 22. According to Mr. Moein, each of his clients was sentenced to five years in prison for 'conspiracy against national security' and one year for 'propaganda against the regime.' Based on this ruling, Farhad Mithami and Reza Khandan are also prohibited from membership in political parties and groups, activities in cyberspace, media, and press for two years, and during this period, they are banned from leaving the country. This ruling is not final and can be appealed in the court of appeals. Reza Khandan, the husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh, was arrested at his home on September 4 this year and was released on December 23. Farhad Mithami, a physician and civil activist, was also arrested at his workplace on July 30 this year and remains imprisoned. Sediqa Pishnamaz, Mr. Mithami's mother, stated in an interview with Radio Farda that the reason for her son's arrest was possession of several badges that read 'I protest against compulsory hijab.' Farhad Mithami had gone on a hunger strike in protest against Reza Khandan's arrest and ended his hunger strike after Khandan's release. Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer, was also arrested on June 13 and, according to reports, was sentenced to five years in prison in a case whose ruling was issued in absentia on October 5, 2016. Mr. Khandan has also been in detention since September 4. Five UN reporters and several other human rights organizations have called for the release of women's rights defenders in Iran, including these three figures.