Three detainees from November protests in Kermanshah sentenced to over 17 years in prison
Khalil Asadi Bozjani, Sobhat Omidi, and Mahdi Abdali, three detainees from the November protests, have been sentenced to 17 years and 6 months in prison by the Revolutionary Court.
According to the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, the hearing of these citizens’ case was held on February 10 at Branch 3 of the Kermanshah Revolutionary Court under the presiding judge Asadi, along with another co-defendant named Mohi al-Din Asgari.
Based on the issued verdict, Khalil Asadi Bozjani was sentenced to 6 years and 6 months in prison on charges of “assembly and conspiracy against the security of the country” and “membership in anti-regime groups,” Sobhat Omidi was also sentenced to 10 years in prison on similar charges, and Mahdi Abdali was sentenced to 1 year in prison.
According to Mosafa Ahmadian, defense counsel for two of these civil activists, the specifics of the charges against Mr. Asadi Bozjani were stated as “participation in November protests” and “sending news and photos to others.”
The prison sentences for these civil activists were issued by the Revolutionary Court at a time when, based on Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code regarding the combination of sentences, only 3 years and 6 months of Khalil Asadi Bozjani’s sentence and 5 years of Mohi al-Din Asgari’s sentence would be enforceable as the most severe penalty.
Based on available information, Sobhat Omidi was arrested on November 19 while injured by security forces and after spending 41 days in detention at the Information Office detention center and Diesel Abad prison in Kermanshah, was temporarily released upon posting bail until the end of his trial.
Mahdi Abdali was also arrested during the November protests while being shot at and after spending 28 days in detention at the Information Office detention center and Diesel Abad prison in Kermanshah, was temporarily released upon posting a 100 million toman bail until the end of his trial.
Currently, Khalil Asadi Bozjani, who was arrested on November 20 at his family home in Jaffarabad, Kermanshah, remains in Diesel Abad prison due to his inability to pay a 210 million toman bail.
Protests against rising gas prices began on Friday, November 15, following the sudden announcement of the fuel price hike, in various Iranian cities including Mashhad, Khuzestan, Ahvaz, Khorramshahr, and Behbahan, and gradually spread to all parts of the country. Over the past two days, various news reports and videos of protest gatherings and anti-government slogans in different cities have been released. In some cities, protesters set fires to banks and clashed with police.
The United States says the Islamic Republic spends the country’s wealth on supporting terrorist groups and destabilizing the Middle East instead of helping its people. The United States has also repeatedly condemned endemic financial corruption and the plundering of Iran’s natural resources by regime-linked officials, considering them among the main causes of Iran’s economic and financial problems.
Some time ago, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted about Islamic Republic officials, saying they have engaged in corruption instead of helping the people.
Source: Voice of America
