Nasrin Sotoudeh: Ahmad Zeidabadi's Sentence Should Be Reviewed

Ahmad Zeidabadi, a journalist who has been in prison since 2009, was supposed to be released on May 21 after completing his six-year sentence. However, he was directly exiled from Rajai Shahr prison to Gonabad on Thursday. In 2009, Zeidabadi was sentenced to six years in prison and five years of exile for propaganda against the regime and disturbing public opinion. According to Nasrin Sotoudeh, a lawyer in Tehran, Zeidabadi's sentence should be reviewed based on the new Islamic Penal Code to be executable. Sotoudeh stated that all sentences for political and ideological defendants in recent years were issued under the security atmosphere that prevailed after the 2009 elections in Iran, and thus should definitely be reviewed. Moreover, there are other reasons for re-examining many of these cases. For instance, Article 134 of the new Islamic Penal Code stipulates that if a person is prosecuted for various charges and convicted on all counts, only the most severe punishment should be enforced. Most cases formed after the elections faced multiple charges and penalties, which definitely need to be re-examined. Zeidabadi's case also falls under this category regarding the main punishment. Sotoudeh explained that the new Islamic Penal Code clearly states that courts cannot impose additional penalties or restrictions exceeding two years in any case. This includes exile. Therefore, Zeidabadi's exile and restrictions should be reviewed before execution. Given that Zeidabadi has been sentenced to a lifetime ban from journalism, which is his profession, this ruling was illegal at the time and should be reviewed now. If someone is permanently barred from their professional duties, it is akin to a life sentence. Sotoudeh also mentioned that two of her colleagues, Mohammad Seifzadeh and Abdolfattah Soltani, have similar sentences regarding their legal profession. With the new Islamic Penal Code, their sentences should also be modified. She noted that her colleague Soltani's ban was previously for twenty years but has now been reduced to two years under the new law. Sotoudeh believes this should apply to all political prisoners to clarify their punishments.