Iranian Woman Who Denounced Son’s Arrest Faces Prison Term

An Iranian woman has been handed down a 10-month prison sentence suspended for three years and a fine for protesting against the arrest of her son by intelligence agents, a human rights website reported. 

HRANA said on January 7 that the Criminal Court in Gorgan found Fereshteh Mahdavi guilty of "disturbing public order and peace." 

The court changed a sentence of 50 lashes to a 10 million toman ($200) fine payable to the government.

Mahdavi was arrested on September 9 last year, a day after her son Mohammad Reza Shoghi was beaten and taken into custody by intelligence agents. 

She was held in Gorgan prison until her release on bail in late October.

Shoghi was also temporarily released on bail in November after being charged with "gathering and collusion." 

The case highlights the ongoing crackdown on dissent in Iran, where individuals face harsh punishments for peacefully expressing their grievances.