Omid Montazeri sentenced to six years suspended prison term

In a court hearing for Ashura [protesters], Omid Montazeri was sentenced to a six-year suspended prison term.

Montazeri’s sentence was issued to him early morning February 27, 2010 by judge Salavati. Omid Montazeri’s lawyer has not been allowed to participate in the court procedures. His lawyer has also not been allowed to view his client’s file. The court procedure [for Montazeri] is completely illegal and against the principles of the constitution.

Montazeri was arrested on December 28, 2009, upon his arrival at the tracking office of the Ministry of Intelligence to obtain information on the arrest of his mother (Mahin Fahimi) and her guests who were all arrested at his family’s residence. It has been two months now that Omid Montazeri has been in detention. Mahin Fahimi was released on bail on February 9, 2010.
Many human rights activists around the world have demanded the release of Montazeri.

Montazeri was completing his last term in Allameh Tabatabai University to obtain a bachelors degree in law. He is also known as a poet and journalist. The articles he wrote about were culture related or editorials. His work has been published in Iranian newspapers such as Farhang Ashti and Khabar.

Omid Montazeri’s father, Hamid Montazeri, was a political prisoner who was executed by the regime in 1988. Omid's mother is Sohrab Arabi's Aunt.

Translation by: Maryam Persian2English.com