Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan Province, has sentenced Kurdish civil rights activist Taha Rasoulian to a total of seven years and three months in prison.
According to the verdict, Rasoulian was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of “acting against national security” through his “affiliation” with one of the Kurdish opposition parties, three years and seven months in jail for “assembly and collusion to commit crimes against national security”, and to eight months’ imprisonment on charges of “propaganda against the state”.
Earlier in May, Rasoulian was also convicted by Branch 102 of the Criminal Court of Piranshahr, West Azerbaijan Province, on charges of “disturbing public order and peace”. However, his sentence of three-month in prison and 40 lashes was commuted to a cash fine of 50 million rials – nearly 100 USD.
Rasoulian, from Piranshahr, was arrested by security forces in the city on 18 January and subsequently taken to a security detention centre in Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan Province.
After interrogation, he was transferred to Naqadeh Prison and provisionally released on 21 February after posting a substantial bail of 50 billion rials – nearly 100,000 USD.
