Kurdish environmental activist's prison sentence increased to 6 years by appeals court
The five-year prison sentence of Chia Mohammadi, a Sanandaj resident and environmental activist, previously issued by the Revolutionary Court, was increased to six years by the Court of Appeal.
According to news published by human rights media, the sentence of this environmental activist, who had previously been issued by Branch 1 of the Sanandaj Revolutionary Court on charges such as "connection with Kurdish opposition parties", "action against national security", "propaganda against the system", and "spreading lies", was increased to 6 years on Monday, February 4, by Branch 4 of the Kurdistan Provincial Court of Appeal.
It is not clear to VOA which Kurdish opposition party the Sanandaj resident was affiliated with.
According to published news, this environmental activist was previously summoned to the Second Branch of the Investigation Department in another case, following a complaint from the Kurdistan Provincial Intelligence Department on charges of "gathering and colluding against the system," and was temporarily released on bail until the end of the trial. However, his court hearing in this case has not yet been held.
Chia Mohammadi was arrested on March 24, 2018, and after 6 months of detention in solitary confinement, he was finally released temporarily until the end of the trial after posting bail of 800 million Tomans.
According to news published by Voice of America, this is not the first time that a Kurdish citizen has been arrested and sentenced to heavy sentences such as long prison terms. Previously, Judge Tashfad, a citizen living in Marivan city, was sentenced to 6 years by the Kurdistan Provincial Court of Appeal on charges of "collaborating with a Kurdish party opposed to the regime."
The US State Department has repeatedly and on various occasions condemned the violent confrontations and widespread repression of protesters, as well as the repeated and persistent violations of the rights of Iranian citizens, including ethnic and religious minorities, by the ruling regime in that country.
Source: Voice of America
