Hassan Bagherinia, University Professor and Khamenei Critic, Sentenced to Over 10 Years in Prison

Human rights media have reported that the Revolutionary Court of Mashhad has sentenced Hassan Bagherinia, a suspended professor at Sabzevar University and critic of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, to over 10 years in prison, a teaching ban, and other penalties. According to the websites Hrana and Hengaw, this ruling was issued by the first branch of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad and was verbally communicated to Mr. Bagherinia on Tuesday, March 4. Hassan Bagherinia was sentenced to a total of 10 years and 9 months in prison for charges of 'insulting the leadership', 'forming and managing a group aimed at disrupting national security', and 'conspiracy and collusion to commit crimes against internal security'. Five years of this sentence have been suspended. Additionally, he has been sentenced to two years of prohibition from teaching at universities and educational institutions, as well as two years of travel ban. Khosrow Alikordi, a lawyer, also confirmed this news, stating that the enforceable sentence for this university professor is six years in prison and two years of prohibition from teaching at the university. Hassan Bagherinia, who was an educational sciences professor and a faculty member at Hakim Sabzevari University, was suspended from the university in the winter of 2022 after supporting protesting students and the nationwide 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests. Following that, he released a video message in which he severely criticized Ali Khamenei, calling him 'oppressive', and was briefly detained in June of this year. According to the Hrana website, part of this university professor's case, which relates to the charge of 'spreading falsehoods and inciting effectively', is still under review in the first branch of the criminal court in Mashhad. Pressure on various professional groups, including students and university professors, has intensified in recent years, and Human Rights Watch, in its annual report on various countries, stated that the human rights situation in Iran has 'deteriorated', with more students and professors facing suspension and expulsion.