Aras Amiri's 10-year prison sentence confirmed: Conviction without legal documentation and without holding an appeal trial

The cousin of Aras Amiri, a dual-citizen prisoner who was sentenced to a final 10-year sentence by the Court of Appeal, told the Campaign for Human Rights in Iran that the “unjust” verdict of the Court of Appeal was delivered to Ms. Amiri’s lawyer early on Sunday, August 17. Based on this ruling, Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals upheld Aras Amiri’s sentence of “10 years in prison” and “a two-year work and travel ban” on charges of “managing a subversive network with the aim of overthrowing the Islamic Republic.” Aras Amiri is currently in the women’s ward of Evin Prison.

Mohsen Omrani, Aras Amiri's cousin, said about the documents of his accusation and what subversion network he was responsible for running: "Aras's lawyer and family repeatedly asked the court what the name of this illegal group or network that Aras is said to have formed or run is, so that at least they would know, but no name of any group or network was mentioned in the court or the verdict. In fact, Aras was convicted of this charge and given a heavy sentence without any legal documents and without the existence of a group."

According to Mohsen Omrani, his appeals court was convened without him or his lawyer present: "Based on Ebrahim Raisi's request to expedite the process of the cases, there is no longer a need to hold an appeals court. But how could there be no need to hold one for a sensitive case like Aras, who was facing a 10-year prison sentence and whose only hope for changing this sentence was the defense in the appeals court? Even his right to appeal was taken away."

Ms. Amiri had recently written in a letter to the head of the Judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, that officials in the Ministry of Intelligence had requested her cooperation, and after Ms. Amiri rejected this request, she was re-arrested and charged with the new charge of "managing a subversive network." 

Mr. Omrani stated that Aras Amiri's family is saddened by the confirmation of this verdict, saying: "Aras' family had repeatedly gone to the authorities for help and had received favorable promises to overturn the verdict, and for this reason they were hoping, but with the objective confirmation of their son's court verdict, they were greatly disappointed."

"Aras Amiri's cousin pointed out that Aras does not have any physical problems and tries to keep himself energetic and happy mentally, but the reality is that a young girl should be unjustly imprisoned for 10 years for a crime she did not commit. Naturally, no matter how energetic she is, this sentence will have an effect on her."

Mohsen Omrani said about the sensitivity of the court regarding the British Council, where Ms. Amiri worked before her arrest: "Aras worked at the British Council through a recruitment advertisement and as a simple employee, and as the British Council has officially announced, Aras did not have any management role in this complex. Despite the cries of Aras' family and lawyers, the judicial and security authorities never specified which illegal group they believe Aras ran, which deserves such a heavy sentence. Interestingly, what is missing in this case is the supposed subversive group and the reason why the supposed subversive group was run by Aras, and it is not clear which subversive network is mentioned in the verdict issued against Aras."

Source: Human Rights Campaign