Afshin Iqani condemned to 4 years 3 months and 1 day "reprimand" imprisonment

Wednesday 2 Tir 1389 [23 June 2010] at 17:02 [5:02 PM]

Hrana News – Afshin Iqani, a Baha’i citizen of Semnan, has been condemned to 4 years, 3 months and 1 day imprisonment as a “reprimand”.

The 4 year sentence relates to the charge of “organizing groups intending to disturb national security” – in the sentence handed down it states that any activity related to the Baha’i Faith is illegal, and has therefore no goal other than disturbing national security – the 3 months and 1 day part of the sentence is related to the charge of “propaganda against the regime and in favour of opposition groups (Baha’ism).

According to Baha’i News Service, the court order also refers to the fact that Mr Iqani’s previous arrest will be reflected in his sentence, and that Ministry of Information experts assert that all his assets related to the accusations will be confiscated. In additional, as the Semnan prison lacks appropriate facilities to look after “this type of prisoner” [no further information available on what type of prisoner this is], Mr Iqani will be sent to a prison in Tehran Province.

He has twenty days to request a review of the court order.

Mr Iqani was arrested on the 15th of Day 1388 [3 Jan 2010] and had been released on a 150 million Toman [1 toman = 10 Iranian rials; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_toman; this is approx 150,000 USD] bond on the 9th of Esfand 1388 [28 Feb].

It should be noted that on the 21st of Esfand 1387 [11 Mar 2009], Ministry of Information officials had attacked Mr. Iqani’s store, had confiscated half his stock, and had ordered him to sell the remaining stock in the store before the arrival of the new year [i.e., by Nawruz 1388, or 21 Mar 2009].”

Translation by Iran Press Watch
Source: http://www.hra-news.org/1389-01-27-05-24-07/2297-1.html