Iranian Student Arrested and Sentenced to Five Years of Suspended Imprisonment for Publishing Propaganda Against the System

Reports from local sources in Iran reveal that Hanieh Maroufi, a 35-year-old doctoral student from Saqqez, has been arrested and sentenced to five years of suspended imprisonment for publishing propaganda against the Iranian government.

The Hengaw Human Rights Organization (HOHR) confirmed that Maroufi was first sentenced to eight months in prison by the Saqqez Revolutionary Court, and later to nine months by the Saqqez Criminal Court.

Maroufi’s arrest and sentencing have sparked outrage from human rights groups, who are calling for her immediate release. It is not clear what specific propaganda Maroufi was charged with publishing, but it is known that the Iranian government has strict censorship laws that limit free speech and academic freedom.

According to Hengaw, Maroufi’s sentence was later changed to a fine of 8 million tomans for the first charge and five years of suspended imprisonment for the second charge by the Iranian Revolutionary Court. The suspended sentence means that Maroufi will not be imprisoned unless she commits another offense within five years.

The arrest and sentencing of Hanieh Maroufi is just one example of the ongoing human rights violations in Iran, where freedom of expression is severely restricted. Human rights organizations are urging the Iranian government to respect international human rights standards and release Maroufi and all other political prisoners. The international community must also take action to hold the Iranian government accountable for its violations of human rights and ensure that academic freedom is upheld.

In conclusion, it is imperative that academic freedom and freedom of expression are protected, and Hanieh Maroufi’s case highlights the need for global action to ensure that individuals are not persecuted for their ideas and beliefs.