Judiciary's response to criticism of heavy sentences handed down to civil activists

Following increasing criticism of the heavy sentences handed down to several civil and labor activists, the head of the judiciary has called for a swift review of these sentences. The seven defendants in the Haft Tappeh protests case have been sentenced to a total of 110 years in prison by the Revolutionary Court.

On Sunday, September 7, Tasnim News Agency reported, citing the Judiciary Media Center, that the head of the judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi, has ordered a "fair review and hearing" of "the verdicts issued by one of the branches of the Revolutionary Court in some recent cases" to be carried out promptly and under the supervision of the Chief Justice of Tehran.

According to evidence, Raisi's order is related to the sentences that Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court issued against seven defendants in the Haft Tappeh labor protests case.

Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili says: "The head of the judiciary emphasizes listening to the voices of workers and believes that instead of harsh judicial and security confrontations, the wound should be healed and labor and livelihood problems should be resolved so that even if those who want to abuse this space for their own dirty purposes do not have the opportunity to abuse it."

HRANA, the news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, wrote on Saturday about the sentences of the seven defendants in the Haft Tappeh case: "According to the verdict of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, Esmaeil Bakhshi was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment and 74 lashes, Mohammad Khanifer was sentenced to six years of imprisonment, Sepideh Qolyan, Amir Amirgholi, Amir Hossein Mohammadifard, Sanaz Allahyari, and Asal Mohammadi were each sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment."

Denial of 17 and 18 year prison sentences

Esmaili denied the 17 and 18-year prison sentences for the defendants in the Haft Tappeh case, telling Mizan News Agency that the maximum sentence issued for the main defendants in the case is seven years and for some others, five years.

Jamal Heydarimanesh, Sepideh Qolyan's lawyer, told the "Ansaf News" website on Saturday, September 6, that his client was sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison in the verdict that was delivered to him.

The difference in the length of the sentences of the defendants in the Haft Tappeh case could be due to the fact that an individual may receive different sentences for different charges, and in the example of Sepideh Qolyan, he may receive a "total" of 18 years, but taking into account the principle of "aggregation of sentences", only the highest sentence will ultimately be applicable.

Qolyan's lawyer said that his client was sentenced to seven years in prison for "gathering and colluding against national security," seven years for "membership in the Gam group," one and a half years for "propaganda activities against the system," and two and a half years for "spreading lies."

In any case, the issuance of heavy sentences to those convicted of charges such as "gathering against national security" due to union protests has been met with strong critical reactions.

Criticism of the Chief Justice

Parvaneh Salahshouri, a representative from Tehran in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, strongly criticized the recent sentences for civil and trade union activists in a Twitter message and accused Ebrahim Raisi of being much harsher than his "predecessors."

Hesamuddin Ashena, an advisor to the president, wrote on his personal Twitter page: “Today, the issue is not just about Haft Tappeh, but the problem is about Haft Khan Adlat.”

Shahrbanoo Emami, a representative of the fifth and sixth terms of the Majlis and current member of the Tehran City Council, also called for the annulment of the sentences of those who have exercised their right to participate in union protests in a Twitter message, referring to Ebrahim Raisi's slogan about the implementation of justice.

Farzaneh Zeilabi, a lawyer for Haft Tappeh workers, protesting the heavy sentences handed down to her clients by the Revolutionary Court, says, "After the political manipulations and prejudices of senior officials in the judiciary and some related media outlets such as the Iranian Broadcasting Corporation, Kayhan, and Fars News," the issuance of such sentences was not far-fetched.

"Judge's Panic" and Hasty Sentences

He accused the judge of Branch 28 of Tehran's Revolutionary Court of "precipitancy" and said: "Judge Moghiseh, in fact, issued a verdict suddenly and hastily in an unfinished proceeding, without holding a court session for one of my clients."

In response to such criticism, the Judiciary Spokesperson said that, as can be inferred from Ebrahim Raisi's order to "review and fairly consider" this case, the rulings issued are not final and that comments and judgments should be made after the final ruling is issued.

According to Mizan, Gholamhossein Esmaili said that in a case filed due to the participation of a group of workers in an "illegal gathering and disruption of public order" in Khuzestan Province, there were 41 defendants, and a restraining order has been issued for all of them.

However, the lawyer for the Haft Tappeh defendants says that "creating fear and terror through issuing prison sentences and floggings" is not effective for a worker who does not have a meal at night.

Source: DW