Iranian political activist Emad Bahavar has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of "assembly and conspiracy against national security," "spreading propaganda against the regime," and "insulting the supreme leader," RFE/RL's Radio Farda reports.
Bahavar, 33, led the youth wing of the pro-democracy Freedom Movement of Iran.
He was taken into custody on March 1 for the fourth time since the disputed presidential election in June 2009, during which he was a member of the "Third Wave" campaign supporting reformist candidate Mir Hossein Musavi.
Ahmad Sadr Haj Seyed Javadi, a founding member of the Freedom Movement of Iran, told Radio Farda that such harsh sentences are meant to intimidate young people who might be interested in the Freedom Movement of Iran. He said trials of political activists are held without lawyers or juries, which violates of the country's constitution.
Bahavar, who was studying for a master's degree in political sciences, was barred from continuing his education due to his political activities.
According to the opposition Jaras website, Bahavar's mother said that at the time of his arrest, his interrogator had threatened to have him jailed for 10 years.
Bahavar, 33, led the youth wing of the pro-democracy Freedom Movement of Iran.
He was taken into custody on March 1 for the fourth time since the disputed presidential election in June 2009, during which he was a member of the "Third Wave" campaign supporting reformist candidate Mir Hossein Musavi.
Ahmad Sadr Haj Seyed Javadi, a founding member of the Freedom Movement of Iran, told Radio Farda that such harsh sentences are meant to intimidate young people who might be interested in the Freedom Movement of Iran. He said trials of political activists are held without lawyers or juries, which violates of the country's constitution.
Bahavar, who was studying for a master's degree in political sciences, was barred from continuing his education due to his political activities.
According to the opposition Jaras website, Bahavar's mother said that at the time of his arrest, his interrogator had threatened to have him jailed for 10 years.
