Three Political Activists in Iran Sentenced to a Total of 23 Years in Prison and Four Years of Exile

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran reported that Majid Asadi, Payam Shakiba, and Mohammad Bonazadeh Amirkhizi, three former political prisoners who were re-arrested last year, have been sentenced to a total of 23 years in prison and four years of exile. According to a source, based on the ruling of Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court presided over by Judge Mashallah Ahmadzadeh, Mohammad Bonazadeh Amirkhizi was sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment and two years of exile to Nikshahr in Sistan and Baluchestan province. According to this ruling, Majid Asadi was sentenced to six years of imprisonment and two years of exile to Borazjan in Bushehr province, while Payam Shakiba was sentenced to six years of imprisonment. The website stated that these three prisoners were tried on charges of 'propaganda against the regime and conspiracy to act against national security,' and a representative from the Ministry of Intelligence attended the court session as a 'case expert,' indicating that this ruling was issued 'with his intervention.' This ruling is subject to review in the appeals court. These three individuals, who have previous prison records, were re-arrested in late February 2017, and their trial was held in mid-November 2017 in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court. Majid Asadi, 35, a former student activist from Allameh Tabatabai University, was arrested following the protests against the 2009 presidential election and was released in 2015 after serving four years in prison. Payam Shakiba, 30, a former student activist from Zanjan University, was also arrested in 2008 for exposing the efforts of the university's student deputy to sexually exploit a female student, ultimately being sentenced to six months in prison and six months suspended prison. Mohammad Bonazadeh Amirkhizi, 63, was arrested in 2009 for alleged connections with the People's Mujahedin Organization and was released in 2014 after serving five years in prison. Before Mr. Bonazadeh Amirkhizi, his wife and brothers were imprisoned and later released after serving their sentences. Members of this family were arrested and imprisoned for visiting their children who were in Camp Ashraf and are members of the People's Mujahedin Organization. In recent years, especially following the protests against the 2009 presidential election, hundreds of political activists, student activists, civil activists, women's rights activists, journalists, lawyers, Baha'is, Christian converts, Gonabadi dervishes, and others have been arrested and sentenced to long-term imprisonment.