Iranian Lawyer Mehdi Shakibafar Begins Prison Sentence on Multiple Charges

Mehdi Shakibafar, an Iranian lawyer, began serving his prison sentence on Monday.

Shakibafar announced that he was leaving his mother’s home in Karaj on his birthday to report to the Enforcement of Judgments Office in Saveh to begin serving his prison term.

According to the HRANA human rights organization, Shakibafar was convicted on multiple charges by Branch 9 of the Court of Appeals in Markazi Province.

His charges include 15 months and one day for "insulting the Supreme Leader," 7 months and 16 days for "propaganda against the Islamic Republic," and 1 year for "spreading falsehoods," with 11 months of the sentence suspended for five years.

Additionally, Shakibafar has been sentenced to twenty-one months of exclusion from the legal profession as part of his penalties.

Last month, Shakibafar was summoned to the first branch of the General Prosecutor's Office and Saveh Revolution Court.

Although he was initially acquitted of all charges in the primary court, the prosecutor's office appealed the decision, arguing that his acquittal could "make him courageous."

As a result, Shakibafar's case was re-examined.

With Shakibafar's imprisonment, the number of lawyers currently incarcerated in Iran has risen to seven.