Iranian Activist Sentenced To Prison Over Internet Writings

An eight-year sentence handed down to political activist Abbas Khorsandi has been confirmed by an appeals court. He was charged with setting up an "illegal political group." According to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, the only evidence against him is apparently based on his political beliefs and articles published on the Internet.

Khorsandi was initially arrested in September 2007 in his hometown of Firuzkuh outside Tehran. Security agents searched his home, but were reportedly unable to find any incriminating evidence to confiscate. He was sentenced in March to eight years in prison on charges of threatening state security.

The 50-year-old economics professor is the leader and founder of the unregistered Democratic Party of Iran.