Mohammad Borougni's Death Sentence Changed to 5 Years in Prison and 10 Years Exile

The human rights organization "Hengaw" reported on Saturday, December 4, that the death sentence of Mohammad Borougni, one of the detainees from last year's protests in Pakdasht, Tehran province, was changed to 5 years of prison and 10 years of exile after the acceptance of a retrial and referral of the case to an equivalent branch. According to Hengaw, 19-year-old Mohammad Borougni, imprisoned in Ghezal Hesar prison in Karaj, was sentenced to 5 years of prison and 10 years of exile to Naein in Isfahan province by the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran. Mr. Borougni had previously been sentenced to death by the 15th branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by Abolqasem Salavati, on charges of "moharebeh (waging war against God) through wielding a cold weapon, clashing with officers, and setting fire to the Pakdasht governorate." Additionally, it was noted that the death sentence of Mohammad Borougni was halted after the Supreme Court registered and accepted the retrial, referring the case back to an equivalent branch of the Revolutionary Court for further examination. Hengaw pointed out that the physical and mental health of this imprisoned protester has been reported as deteriorating after nearly one year and two months since his arrest. The father of Mohammad Borougni, one of the accused in the nationwide protests, stated that his son dreams of freedom in prison. Amnesty International has warned about the risk of execution for 14 imprisoned protesters in Iran.