Appeals Court confirms Narges Mohammadi's 10-year prison sentence
The heavy ten-year prison sentence for imprisoned human rights activist Narges Mohammadi was upheld by the Court of Appeal.
Ms. Mohammadi had previously been sentenced to five years in prison on charges of "gathering and colluding with the intention of committing a crime against the country's national security," one year in prison on charges of "propaganda activity against the system," and ten years in prison on charges of "forming and managing the illegal Legam group."
The website of the Center for Human Rights Defenders reported on Wednesday, October 27, that the sentence issued to Narges Mohammadi, the spokesperson and vice president of the center, was also "unanimously" confirmed by the Court of Appeal.
According to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, when multiple sentences are issued against a defendant, the longest sentence issued is the criterion, thus a ten-year prison sentence will be imposed on this human rights activist.
According to Taghi Rahmani, a political activist and wife of Ms. Rahmani, the Court of Appeals issued its ruling before the deadline for receiving documents from Narges Rahmani's lawyers.
Mr. Rahmani had previously told VOA that this heavy sentence was “retaliatory” and a sign of the judicial system’s serious opposition to human rights activities.
Narges Mohammadi, who is currently in prison, suffers from two diseases: pulmonary embolism and muscular paralysis. According to doctors, the complications of these two diseases are exacerbated in prison and stressful environments.
He suffered nervous shocks repeatedly in prison and was hospitalized while handcuffed and shackled to a bed.
After the verdict was issued by the lower court, headed by Judge Salavati, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called it shocking and called on the Iranian judiciary to release the human rights activist.
Source: Voice of America
