Father sentenced to death, daughter to 25 years in Iran protest trial - lawyer
An Iranian lawyer said a court had sentenced a father to death and his daughter to 25 years in prison over their alleged involvement in the January protests.
Ali Sharifzadeh Ardekani said Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court sentenced Mohammad Abbasi to death on a charge of “enmity against God” in connection with the killing of a police colonel during unrest in Malard. His daughter, Fatemeh Abbasi, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
He said the case was referred to Branch 39 of the Supreme Court after an appeal but that the court declined to accept the family’s chosen lawyers at the review stage, citing procedural grounds. Sharifzadeh Ardekani said he was told the ruling was about to be issued and that new legal representation would not be accepted.
Judiciary-affiliated media have previously identified Mohammad Abbasi as the main defendant in the case and said the family of the slain officer had requested the death penalty.
Rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns over Iran’s handling of protest-related cases, citing the use of broad national security charges, limits on access to chosen lawyers and allegations of forced confessions and arbitrary detention.
