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The Iranian authorities sentenced Faezeh Hashemí, the daughter of one of the founders of the Islamic Republic, to five years in prison. The activist was accused of “inciting riots” in Tehran during the protests that began over the death in police custody of the young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini. In addition, Iran sentenced a Belgian citizen to 40 years in prison and 74 lashes for alleged espionage.
Prison sentences, whippings and death sentences. Despite international rejection, Iran increases its repressive measures.
On January 10, activist Faezeh Hashemí, daughter of the late former president Akbar Hashemí Rafsanjani and a key figure in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, was sentenced to five years in prison.
Although the defense did not disclose the alleged crimes for which she was sentenced, the woman was arrested in September 2022, accused of “inciting a riot” in Tehran during the largest wave of anti-government protests that sparked the death of 22-year-old Mahsa. Amini in police custody.
At that time, the capital’s prosecutor accused the daughter of the former Iranian president of “propaganda against the system.”
“Following her arrest, Mrs. Faezeh Hashemi was sentenced to five years in prison, but the sentence is not final,” said defense attorney Neda Shams, who said she will appeal the ruling.
#Iran has sentenced Faezeh Hashemi, the daughter of former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, to five years in prison. A well-known Iranian activist, Hashemi was dictated last year by Tehran’s public prosecutor for “propaganda against the system.” https://t.co/M8vpPNbxRL
— UANI (@UANI) January 10, 2023
The conviction of the 60-year-old activist adds to a series of controversial rulings by the Iranian authorities, which include at least 16 people sentenced to death and four executed for their participation in the mobilizations, one of the biggest challenges for the clerical establishment of the country.
Those sentenced include human rights defenders, journalists and public figures. One of the names considered for capital punishment was that of 26-year-old footballer Amir Nasr Azadani, whose case caused an international uproar. On Monday, January 9, the authorities sentenced him to 26 years in prison for the alleged murder of three members of the security forces when he participated in anti-government mobilizations.
A Belgian citizen sentenced to 40 years in prison for alleged espionage
Another tough move by Iran outside the context of the protests is causing a stir. This is the sentence of 40 years in prison and 74 lashes against the humanitarian worker of Belgian origin Olivier Vandecasteele.
The 41-year-old man, detained since February 2022, was convicted of four charges including espionage against the Islamic Republic, cooperation with Tehran’s “enemy” the United States, currency smuggling and money laundering. However, the defendant rejects all the charges and the Government of his country describes them as “false”.
Vandecasteele’s distraught family appealed in recent hours to his government to do everything possible to free him. However, despite the previous calls from that nation, Tehran issued a ruling even stronger than the 28 years in prison that Brussels had anticipated and reported last December.
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib condemned the “arbitrary detention” of Vandecasteele and assured that the Iranian ambassador in Brussels will be summoned to protest the sentence.
“Olivier is a victim, a hostage (…) The family is devastated by the news,” added Van Steirtegem, a friend of the detained man.
According to the version of the Iranian authorities, Assadolah Assadi would have participated in a frustrated plot to bomb a demonstration of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), an exile group that opposes the Islamic Republic, near Paris in June 2018. .
However, the Belgian Ministry of Justice assures that the man, who was arrested during a visit to Tehran, is in prison for “a series of invented crimes” and added that it would be in retaliation for the 20-year sentence. prison that the Belgian authorities imposed on an Iranian diplomat in 2021.
With Reuters and EFE
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