Son Of Former Iranian President Jailed

Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani (file photo)

Iran's judiciary said on March 15 that the son of former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being tried on security and corruption charges.

A judiciary statement did not state the specific charges for which Mehdi Hashemi Rafsanjani -- known in Iran as Mehdi Hashemi -- was convicted.

The statement said Hashemi would be banned from public service after his conviction.

It also said Hashemi has 20 days to appeal.

State media reported that Hashemi was accused of involvement in massive protests that followed Iran's disputed presidential election in 2009.

Hashemi was arrested in 2012 after returning to Tehran from Britain, where he had been living for three years. He was bailed but was later rearrested.

The 45-year-old businessman is the former president's eldest son.

During the 2009 presidential elections, hard-liners close to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini accused Rafsanjani and his family of supporting the opposition Green Movement.

Rafsanjani was president of Iran from 1989 to 1997.

Based on reporting by AFP, AP, Reuters, and farsnews.com