Blogger arrested before being able to appeal against jail sentence

Reporters Without Borders called for the release of blogger Omidreza Mirsayafi (http://rooznegaar.blogfa.com), who was sentenced to two years in prison for “insulting” the Islamic Republic’s leaders and six months in prison for “publicity against the government.”

Mirsayafi, the blogger of Rooznegar (which can no longer be accessed), was not able to appeal against his conviction before his arrest because his lawyers did not receive a copy of the court’s sentence in time to file the appeal. This copy of the court’s sentence, which the court handed down on 15 December, has still not been received.

Mirsayafi told Reporters Without Borders that his blog posts were mostly about traditional Persian music and culture.

“I am a cultural blogger, not a political one. Of all the entries I posted online, only two or three were satirical. I did not intend to insult anyone,” Mirsayafi said.

Mirsayafi is meanwhile still facing separate charges of “insulting the prophet of Islam” and “attacking the sacredness of Iran” before a Tehran assizes court.

By Eka Obaigbena
Group: Iran