The Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Ilam, in north-west Iran, has sentenced Kurdish teacher Ahmad Alizadeh to a total of six years, seven months and 17 days in prison and other additional penalties.

The court charged Alizadeh with “forming a group of more than two individuals with the intention of disrupting national security” and “propaganda against the state”, Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) has learned.

In addition to the imprisonment, the Revolutionary Court sentenced the Kurdish civilian to two years of dismissal from service, two years of forced residency in the city of Fanuj, Sistan and Baluchestan province, and a two-year ban on activities on social media.

Alizadeh’s trial was held in absentia on 14 February and the verdict was communicated to him on 16 March.

Ilam’s Ministry of Education’s Administrative Violations Department had previously ordered his early retirement.

Alizadeh was arrested by security forces on 18 October 2022 during the anti-government protests in Abdanan, Ilam province, and released on a bail of 1 billion Tomans – nearly 20,000 USD – 15 days later.

On 8 January, he was rearrested after being summoned to the city courthouse and released on a bail of 400 million Tomans – 8,000 USD – after two days.