Iranian War Veteran Gets 13 Years In Prison For Opposing Regime
An Iranian war veteran of the Iran-Iraq war has been sentenced to a total of 13 years behind bars on several charges that include insulting the Supreme Leader.
An Iranian war veteran of the Iran-Iraq war has been sentenced to a total of 13 years behind bars on several charges that include insulting the Supreme Leader.
Mohammad-Vali Heydarbeigi, who has lost both his legs, one ear, and his teeth during the eight-year war, was given the sentence by the criminal court of the city of Abhar in Zanjan province, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported Thursday.
His charges include five years for “collaborating with a hostile government;” one year for "propaganda against the Islamic Republic system;" two years for “insulting the Supreme Leader;” and another five years for “conspiracy and collusion against national security and membership in anti-revolutionary groups.”
Under the laws of the Islamic Republic, if this verdict is upheld by the court of appeal, he must serve the harshest punishment, which will be five years imprisonment in his case.
The war veteran was arrested on November 19, 2022, and was transferred to the Intelligence Detention Center of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) in Zanjan. He was released on bail several weeks later. It is not clear if he was arrested during street protests that rocked Iran last year after the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
