The judiciary of the Islamic Republic has notified the appeal court ruling in the case of Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi, two translators and labor rights activists, with a final sentence of 'three years and seven months in prison' issued to them. According to a report from the Iranian Writers' Association on Sunday, June 9, citing the families of these two labor activists, the prison sentence has been reduced in the appeal court ruling. Based on the initial court ruling, Mohtadi and Asadollahi were sentenced to six years and five years and eight months in prison, respectively, on charges of 'conspiracy against national security' and 'propaganda against the regime.' The families of this activist couple stated that according to the appeal court ruling, their sentences have been converted to 'three years and seven months' in prison each. Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi were arrested on May 8, 2022, along with several other civil activists following a meeting with Cecile Couler and Jacques Pari, a French couple and employees of the 'French Educational and Academic Union.' These two French citizens, who were traveling to Iran for vacation, were arrested by security forces in May 2022, and Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the Attorney General, accused them of 'espionage' in June of the same year. The notification of the appeal court ruling and the sentencing of this activist couple to over three and a half years in prison comes at a time when over 700 cultural, professional, and political activists demanded the 'unconditional' freedom of Keyvan Mohtadi and his wife Anisha Asadollahi in a statement last month.
Notification of Appeal Court Ruling to Activist Couple; Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi Sentenced to Over Three and a Half Years in Prison
Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi, labor rights activists, have received a reduced prison sentence of three years and seven months after their appeal. They were initially sentenced on charges related to national security and propaganda against the regime. Their case has garnered significant attention, with over 700 activists calling for their unconditional release.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Anisha Asadollahi and Keyvan Mohtadi, labor rights activists, received reduced prison sentences of three years and seven months after an appeal. They were initially charged with conspiracy against national security and propaganda against the regime.
- Initial sentences were six years for Mohtadi and five years and eight months for Asadollahi.
- Their arrest followed a meeting with two French citizens accused of espionage.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of cracking down on activists, often citing national security threats. This case is emblematic of broader human rights concerns in the country.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%