Parisa Rafiei, a student at the University of Tehran, was sentenced to 7 years in prison.
Parisa Rafiei, a 21-year-old student at the University of Tehran, was sentenced to 7 years in prison by the Revolutionary Court.
The defense lawyer for Parisa Rafiei, a trade union activist and young student who was arrested in March 2017, announced this news on Sunday, September 25.
Saeed Khalili told ISNA: "Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Ms. Parisa Rafiei to a total of 7 years in prison on charges of gathering and collusion with the intention of committing a crime against national security, propaganda activity against the system, and disturbing public order."
Ms. Rafiei's lawyer said that unfortunately, with this ruling, fairness, justice, and legal and religious principles and standards have been violated. According to her, this ruling was issued due to her participation in the December 16 demonstrations and expressing student union demands and similar matters.
This ruling is appealable, and Ms. Rafiei's lawyer hopes it will be changed on appeal.
During the nationwide protests in Iran that began on Thursday, January 27, and spread to more than 72 cities in Iran, about 100 students were arrested across Iran. Ms. Parisa Rafiei was arrested in March following these protests, along with a number of other students.
Human Rights Watch and the United States have condemned the repression and imprisonment of protesting students in Iran.
Human Rights Watch recently issued a statement stating that Iranian authorities have intensified their repression of protesting students by issuing prison sentences and placing restrictions on peaceful activities.
US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert also tweeted last month: "We condemn Iran's action in issuing prison sentences to students who were peacefully demonstrating."
The tweet continued: "Students should not be punished for expressing their opinions through peaceful demonstrations. These are universal human rights that Iran has an international obligation to respect."
Source: Voice of America
