Mother Of Slain Protester Sentenced To 13 Years In Prison

Mahsa Yazdani, the mother of Mohammad Javad Zahedi, one of the casualties of Iran’s nationwide protests in 2022, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

Yazdani was sentenced in the Revolutionary Court of Sari, northern Iran, under charges including insulting sanctities, endangering state security and insulting the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Hengaw Human Rights organization reported.

Under the law on the combination of sentences, her most severe punishment, which is five years in prison, will be enforceable.

Mitra Zahedi, the daughter of Yazdani, shared in an Instagram story: "What will happen to my three-year-old brother? Who is responsible for all this injustice?"

Mohammad Javad Zahedi was killed by the gunfire of security forces during the nationwide protests in Sari at the age of 20 in September last year.

Since September 2022, when widespread anti-regime protests broke out, security forces have killed well over 500 civilians and severely wounded hundreds. Many young protesters were targeted by shotgun pellets in the face and lost one or both eyes. The regime also arrested 22,000 people, including journalists and hundreds of minors.

Yazdani has always been the voice for justice for her slain son in the past year and has been alongside other families of the victims of the protests.

Initially detained by security forces in Sari, she was transferred to an unknown location on August 22 before being released on bail on September 25. An immediate sentence has been issued for her.