68 Years Prison Sentences for 11 People in Mashhad “Accused of Arson at Mosques and Public Property”

The Deputy Prosecutor of Mashhad announced that 11 members of the “Restart” group have been sentenced to a combined 68 years in prison, including a 14-year sentence for a 37-year-old woman and 11-year sentences for two men.

Five of these individuals have been accused of “attacking” two mosques in the city of Mashhad.

According to the IRNA news agency, Hassan Heidari, Deputy Prosecutor of Mashhad, announced on Monday, March 11, that prison sentences have been issued for 11 members of the “Restart” group, which he described as “opposition groups.”

He stated that a 37-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man, who had previously lived together and were divorced, have been arrested on charges of “arson” at the door of Alghadeer Mosque on Samana Street in Mashhad.

According to Mr. Heidari, the woman has been sentenced to five years in prison for “membership in opposition groups,” five years for “insulting sacred values through arson at the mosque door,” three years for “destruction of public property,” and one year for “propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic system.”

Mr. Heidari also stated that the accused man has been sentenced to two years in prison for “complicity in insulting sacred values through arson at the mosque door,” two years for “complicity in membership in opposition groups,” six months for “complicity in propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic system,” and six months for possession of 39 bullets.

The Deputy Prosecutor of Mashhad also stated that a Sonata vehicle and mobile phones belonging to the accused, which “were used at the time of committing the crime, have been confiscated in favor of the state.”

The woman has been sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison and the man to five years in prison.

The Deputy Prosecutor of Mashhad did not comment on the sentence these two individuals must serve and how Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code will be applied to them.

According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, if a person has committed more than one crime, only the sentence with the highest penalty is considered.

The Deputy Prosecutor of Mashhad also announced that another young man in this case has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for “arson at the door of Imam Hadi Mosque” with similar charges.

According to Mr. Heidari, a 26-year-old man along with his 21-year-old wife have been arrested on charges of “arson at the curtain of Imam Hadi Mosque,” and this man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Based on this report, the 21-year-old wife of this man has also been sentenced to one year in prison on charges of “propaganda activities against the system through video distribution.”

According to Mr. Heidari, two young men aged 19 and 20 in Mashhad and one person in Sabzevar have been sentenced to six years in prison each on charges of “propaganda activities against the system” and “membership in opposition groups.”

He also stated that a 26-year-old young man has been sentenced to one year in prison for “slogan writing” and a 38-year-old man for “distribution of video containing unconventional and violent mourning practices and its publication” has been sentenced to one year in prison each.

The Deputy Prosecutor of Mashhad also stated that a young woman has been sentenced to six years in prison for contact with the “hypocrites organization” and “sending videos” to satellite networks.

Islamic Republic authorities commonly refer to the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization as “hypocrites.” They sometimes use this term for other opposition groups as well.

A combined prison sentence of 68 years has been issued for these 11 people.

The Deputy Prosecutor of Mashhad has not presented any evidence regarding the connection of these individuals to the “Restart” group or other opposition groups against the Islamic Republic.

In recent months, Iran’s security authorities have announced the arrest of individuals accused of attacking several facilities including mosques and banks, and without presenting evidence, have claimed that they are members of the “Restart” group.

Mohammad Hosseini, a former producer of programs on Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting and comedian who has been living abroad for several years, launched a campaign called “Restart” calling for attacks on facilities such as banks, mosques, and Basij bases.

He stated that the purpose of these actions was an attempt to change the Islamic Republic regime.

An Ahvaz Resident Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison

Meanwhile, the “Kaleme” website reported that Reza Altchurch, 33 years old, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison by a ruling of Branch Two of the Revolutionary Court of Ahvaz under the presidency of Judge Zare.

The Hrana website also announced that this Arab resident of Ahvaz has been sentenced to 11 years in prison on charges of “espionage,” “cooperation with opposition groups,” and “propaganda against the system.”

This website, without mentioning the exact number, stated that part of this sentence is suspended.

Reza Altchurch was arrested in Mordad month (August) of 1395 (2016) and remains imprisoned. The reason for Mr. Altchurch’s arrest has not been mentioned in reports.

Source: Radio Farda