[78034] Ten-year prison sentence for a user who documented a demonstration against security forces in Iran

Severe sentencing for a demonstration documenter in Iran

According to reports on Vahid Online, which is identified with opposition coverage, 10 years of imprisonment were sentenced to Masoud Piaho. Piaho is the person who published the famous photo of a protester sitting in front of elite unit forces ("Yegan-e Vizheh") across from the "Ala-ed-Din" shopping center in Tehran, during the protests that took place last December.

Iran International, a television channel based outside Iran that focuses on criticizing the regime, reported that the case against Piaho was conducted under the charge of "cooperation with Israel." According to his lawyer, Hassan Agakhani, the documentation filmed by Piaho was done "unconsciously" and he had no intention of distributing it to the general public, but only to share it in a private Instagram story with a limited number of friends.

According to the lawyer, as published on Vahid Online and Iran International, the appeal against the verdict was rejected by the Supreme Court (Branch 9), and the sentence became final. Piaho is now required to report to prison to serve his lengthy sentence. The case is causing a media stir around the Iranian regime's strict punitive policy against citizens who document the activities of the suppression forces in the country.