Alireza Sepahi Laine, a Khorasanian writer and journalist, was sentenced to Seventy-Four lashes in the first branch of the Kalat County Criminal Court on charges of insulting the authorities.
According to the Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners, the writer and journalist, who was previously charged on November 30th, 2017, with “publishing lies and disturbing public opinion,” following the publication of a note related to general ignorance entitled “Ignorance, more capable than Flood “was summoned and arrested. On May 1st, 2018, Alireza Laine was charged with” insulting officials and officers “and sentenced to 74 lashes.
A source close to Alireza Sepahi, on reason for arrest said, on November 30th, 2017, Alireza Sepahi was summoned on charges of publishing lies and disturbing public opinion, but because he resides in Mashhad and summoned letter was sent to Laine, his Hometown, he appeared before court two days late and that was reason for summons resulted in his arrest.
This Khorasanian writer, was released on December 9th, 2017, from Vakil Abad Prison in Mashhad on 20 million Toman bail until his court.
About the issuance of the slash order for Alireza Sepahi, it has been reported that, the Kalat court has no special branch for press, and the judges of this court do not have the experience and knowledge necessary in this area. On the day of interrogation, a young judge named Nazari who is the successor to the main investigating officer, issued a 20 million Toman collateral bail. In response to the judge Nazari, Alireza said that “even a child knows that with this short time, the bail cannot be provided” and this became the reason for the charge of insulting officials and officers!
Alireza Sepahi Laine, who has previously summoned, interrogated and arrested several times, was last arrested on July 30th, 2011, on charges of “communicating with the Kurdish parties” by the Mashhad Intelligence Office and after being released on bail, on January 2013, by Judge Soltani was sentenced to 11 months in prison in Mashhad, 5 years of deprivation of cultural activity and fines. He spent 8 months in prison.
More than 10 books have been published in Kurdish and Persian languages by this Kurdish author and poet.