30-Year Prison Sentence for Amir Salar Davoudi, Lawyer Defending Imprisoned Activists, Becomes Final

The 30-year prison sentence for Amir Salar Davoudi, a first-degree lawyer and member of the Iranian Bar Association, has been finalized.

Mostafa Turk Hamadani, lawyer for Amir Salar Davoudi, a first-degree lawyer and member of the Iranian Bar Association, announced through a post on his Twitter page that the 30-year prison sentence previously issued by Judge Selavati, head of Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, for the lawyer has been finalized.

Amir Salar Davoudi, a lawyer handling human rights cases, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison in two separate cases on charges of “insulting officials and propaganda against the system,” “cooperation with hostile states through an interview with the U.S. Voice of America television network,” and “forming a group to overthrow the government.” According to Islamic Penal Law, 15 years of this sentence will be enforced.

Mostafa Turk Hamadani, in his Twitter post, wrote: “We will exhaust all legal efforts to have this verdict overturned by utilizing the authorities of the esteemed head of the judiciary and the esteemed prosecutor of Tehran.”

Previously, Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Research Director at Amnesty International, reacted to the 30-year prison sentence and 111 lashes for Amir Salar Davoudi, a first-degree lawyer and member of the Iranian Bar Association, stating: “This is a shocking heavy sentence and a merciless injustice.”

Amir Salar Davoudi, a first-degree lawyer who in recent years has served as counsel for several political and ideological prisoners, including Soheil Arabi, was arrested on November 20 of last year when judicial officials visited his office and was transferred to Evin Prison.

International organizations, including Amnesty International and Reporters Without Borders, say that the Islamic Republic of Iran violates freedom of speech and restricts media outlets.

Source: Voice of America