Mehdi Shakibafar, Lawyer, Transferred to Saveh Prison to Serve Sentence

Mehdi Shakibafar, a lawyer and member of the Central Province Bar Association, who was sentenced to 22 months in prison by Branch 9 of the Court of Appeals on charges of 'propaganda against the regime, spreading falsehoods, and insulting the Leader of the Islamic Republic,' was transferred to Saveh Prison on Monday, September 5. According to the Harana news website, Shakibafar announced hours ago that 'today, coinciding with his birthday, he left his mother's home in Karaj and is on his way to the execution branch of Saveh County to serve his prison sentence.' This lawyer had previously been summoned to the first execution branch of the Criminal Court of Saveh County in late August of this year to serve his sentence. While he had been acquitted of all charges in the first trial, the prosecutor's objection, claiming that his acquittal could lead to him becoming 'more emboldened,' resulted in Shakibafar's case being re-examined and new sentences being issued. Shakibafar, who has represented human rights cases and defended political defendants, was sentenced to fifteen months and one day for 'insulting the Leader of the Islamic Republic' and seven months and sixteen days for 'propaganda against the regime,' totaling twenty-two months and seventeen days of imprisonment. Previously, the Dadvand Lawyers Group mentioned six other imprisoned lawyers and human rights defenders facing similar charges. Amir Salar Davoodi, Taher Naqavi, Arash Keykhosravi, Mohammad Najafi, Khosrow Ali-Kordi, and Mohsen Barahani have faced various charges such as 'spreading falsehoods,' 'conduct unbecoming of a cleric,' and 'propaganda activities against the regime,' and in some cases, have been deprived of their right to practice law. The execution of a death sentence in public; people in Shahrud began their day by watching the gallows. The execution of a Baluch prisoner in Zahedan Central Prison; the accused had previously stated, 'I am not a killer.' The campaign to defend Sharifeh Mohammadi reported the transfer of the mother of this death row inmate to the hospital due to a heart condition.