Iran Breaking: Journalist Emad Baghi Given 7-Year Sentence

EA has learned from reliable sources in Iran that journalist and human rights activist Emad Baghi has been "re-sentenced" and now must serve seven years in prison, with a five-year ban on civil activities.

Baghi was initially sentenced to six years after he conducted an interview with the late Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, a critic of the regime, which was broadcast on BBC Persian on January 2010 a month after Montazeri's death. Baghi was also interrogated about his views on the death penalty, his collaboration with human rights organizations, and his activities with a society defending prisoners’ rights.  

Last month, the Revolutionary Court, led by the "hard-line" Judge Salavati, sentenced Baghi to an additional year in prison and the five-year ban on civil activities. Yesterday, Baghi was again in court over his involvement in the defence of prisoners' rights.