The lawyer of Mohammad Ali Taheri, the founder of 'Circle of Gnosis', has stated that his client has been sentenced to five years in prison. Mr. Taheri had previously been sentenced to death twice on charges of 'corruption on earth'. Ahmad Khosravi, one of Mr. Taheri's defense lawyers, confirmed this news in an interview with Radio Farda, stating that the new court ruling was communicated to his client on Saturday, March 3rd. The Supreme Court had previously opposed the death sentences issued and stated that the charges against the accused were 'not in accordance with the current laws of the country'. Mohammad Ali Taheri has been in prison since 2011 and has been in temporary detention for the past two years after serving a five-year sentence issued in another case. In 2001, Mohammad Ali Taheri established an institute called 'Circle of Gnosis' where he engaged in activities related to 'Iranian complementary medicine, trans-healing, and Scientology'. Following Mr. Taheri's arrest, several of his associates were also detained. The issuance of the death sentence for Mohammad Ali Taheri sparked significant reactions both domestically and internationally. After the announcement of the charges against him, the U.S. State Department referred to the allegations of corruption on earth or forming a religious cult as contrary to Iran's commitments regarding freedom of expression and religion.
Mohammad Ali Taheri Sentenced to Five Years in Prison
Mohammad Ali Taheri, founder of 'Circle of Gnosis', has been sentenced to five years in prison after previously facing two death sentences for 'corruption on earth'. His case has drawn international attention, particularly from the U.S. government, which criticized the charges as violations of freedom of expression and religion.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Mohammad Ali Taheri has been sentenced to five years in prison after previously facing two death sentences for 'corruption on earth'. The Supreme Court had opposed the death sentences, leading to the new ruling.
- Taheri was initially sentenced to death twice but these were overturned by the Supreme Court.
- He has been in prison since 2011 and was in temporary detention for two years after serving a previous sentence.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Mohammad Ali Taheri founded 'Circle of Gnosis' in 2001, promoting spiritual healing practices that have been controversial in Iran. His legal troubles have drawn significant international attention.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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