Journalist Masoud Kazemi sentenced to 4.5 years in prison
Masoud Kazemi, a journalist and editor-in-chief of the monthly magazine "Voice of the Persians," who is currently in detention, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison.
Ali Mojtahedzadeh, the journalist's defense lawyer, told IRNA on Sunday, June 3, that Judge Moghiseh, head of Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, sentenced Mr. Kazemi to two years in prison on charges of spreading lies, two years for insulting the leadership, and six months for insulting other officials.
The court also sentenced the journalist to a two-year ban from press activities.
His lawyer said that if the conviction is confirmed, the harshest punishment, two years in prison, will be carried out.
Mr. Kazemi was also accused by the judge of conspiracy and collusion, but he was acquitted of this charge.
Masoud Kazemi, who has also collaborated with the newspapers Shargh and Qanon, was arrested by security agents at his home in Tehran in November of last year. On Wednesday, June 1, after going to Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court to hear his case, he was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison due to his inability to pay bail of "one billion" Tomans.
Source: Voice of America
