Law Professor at Shahid Beheshti University Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison; Charge: Teaching in an Educational Course in the Czech Republic

Reza Eslami, a law professor at Shahid Beheshti University and an Iranian-Canadian dual citizen, has been sentenced to seven years in prison by Tehran’s Revolutionary Court for what has been termed “cooperation with a hostile state.”

Some of Mr. Eslami’s associates announced the issuance of this verdict against him on Monday, Bahman 20, through messages on social media. They state that the trial judge considered his cooperation with a Czech non-governmental organization in conducting a rule of law training course funded by an American non-governmental organization as an example of “cooperation with a hostile state.”

Judge Abolqasem Salavati, who is known for issuing harsh sentences against political activists and human rights defenders and has been sanctioned by the United States for human rights violations, issued this verdict in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court. The sentence was delivered to Mr. Eslami in prison last week.

Reza Eslami holds a Ph.D. in Law from McGill University in Canada and is one of the faculty members teaching human rights law and environmental law at Shahid Beheshti University. According to some human rights activists, security officials, by promising Dr. Eslami’s release, prevented his family from being notified of his arrest.

Voice of America reported last month that based on reports published by human rights media outlets, this Shahid Beheshti University law professor was arrested on Sunday, Ordibehesht 23, when Ministry of Intelligence agents raided his workplace. After searching Mr. Eslami’s residence, the officers confiscated some of his personal belongings, including his mobile phone, several books, a laptop, and some of his university notes, and transferred him to an undisclosed location. The issuance of this verdict has been met with the arrest of some of Mr. Eslami’s students and colleagues in cyberspace.

Source: Voice of America