Prominent Iranian political activist sentenced to two years in prison

Prominent political activist Majid Tavakoli has been sentenced by an appeals court in Tehran to two years in prison, two years ban on social media activity, a ban on residing in Tehran, and a prohibition on leaving the country, his wife, Maryam Tabandeh, said on Tuesday.

Tavakoli, who was serving a six-year jail term since October 2023, was released on bail in July this year after his retrial request was accepted.

He was arrested in September 2022 at the outset of Iran’s nationwide Woman, Life, Freedom protests, sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, and was later released on bail on December 20, 2022.

Tavakoli was accused of attempting to "overthrow the Islamic Republic and establish a liberal system."

Tavakoli's activism traces back to his involvement in student protests following the disputed Presidential Election of 2009, during which he was arrested multiple times by Iranian intelligence authorities.