The Iranian regime continues to do things against freedom of speech.

The Iranian regime continues to do things against freedom of speech.
Increased Imprisonment Sentence for Telegram Channel Admin Detained at Orumiyeh Central Prison.

A telegram activist, Farokh Abdi, who had previously been sentenced to a total of 30 months of imprisonment on two separate charges including blasphemy, participation in gatherings and collusion against national security, was sentenced to an additional 5 years of imprisonment per Article 134 of Islamic Penal Code (Aggregation of Fines).

“Both Branch 102 of Public Court and Branch 2 of Orumiyeh Revolutionary Court each had each sentenced Farokh Abdi to 15 months of imprisonment. Upon applying the Article on Aggregation of Fines, his 15 months imprisonment on the charge of blasphemy was annulled but he was sentenced to an additional 5 years of imprisonment sentence  on charges of participation in gathering and collusion against national security in addition to the 15 months prison sentence for the same charge.”, a reliable source told Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN). 

This Cyberspace activist and director of telegram channel, known as Amanj which covers Kurdistan news, was tried earlier at Branch 102 of Orumiyeh Public Court and Branch 2 of the Orumiyeh Revolutionary Court. He was sentenced to a total 30 months of imprisonment on two separate cases.

The source further stated that “the Article on Aggregation of Fines leads to a reduction in prison sentences. However, in Mr Abdi’s case, application of this Article has led to an increase in his sentence. On Thursday, December 20, 2018, this political prisoner was summoned to the Enforcement Office of Orumiyeh Central Prison and his five years imprisonment was formally was served on him”.

According to this source, Judge Ebrahimi from Branch 102 of the Orumiyeh Public Court who has a close affiliation with the Security Institutions in Orumiyeh, has so far played an active role in filing new charges against Kurdish political prisoners and increasing their sentences over the past few years.

“Farokh Abdi, the director of telegram channel known as Amanj, was arrested by security forces in February in Qeshm and was transferred to Intelligence Ministry’s Detention Centre in the city of Tehran. He was transferred to the Ministry of Intelligence Detention Centre in Orumiyeh after two days and was interrogated for the news and materials he had published in his telegram channel in addition to calling people to participate in the gatherings in protest to the attack of Turkish Army on Efrin. Upon completion of the interrogations, this activist was transferred to the Orumiyeh Central Prison from Intelligence Ministry’s Detention Centre in the city of Tehran on March 7 with an order of temporary detention and he is currently detained in ward 3-4 of Ordinary Crimes contrary to the principle of Separation of Crimes.

He was sentenced to a total of 3 years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the state” and “insulting the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran”  by Branch 2 of Revolutionary Court of Orumiyeh. 

Upon contesting the verdict, the dossier of Farokh Abdi was referred to the Orumiyeh Court of Appeal which reduced his sentence to 15 months in prison.

On Thursday, August 6, Farokh Abdi was also tried for another case on the charge of blasphemy at Branch 102 of the Public Court whose verdict of 15 months in prison on charges of insulting the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran was served on this Cyberspace activist on August 21.

kurdistanhumanrights