Arash Ganji, translator and secretary of the Writers’ Association, was sentenced by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, headed by Judge Amouzad, to 11 years in prison.
According to the Campaign for the Defense of Political and Civil Prisoners, Arash Ganji, a literary activist and translator, was sentenced to 11 years in prison during a court hearing held by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, chaired by Mohammad Reza Amouzad on Monday, December 28th, 2020. This sentence was communicated to Nasser Zarafshan, his lawyer, on Wednesday, December 30th, 2020.
The literary activist was sentenced to five years in prison for “conspiracy to act against national security”, one year for “propaganda against the regime” and five years for “membership and cooperation with an anti-regime group”. He has been sentenced to a total of 11 years in prison.
Examples of accusations against this author are the translation of a book on the developments in Syrian Kurdistan entitled “The Small Key to the Big Gate”.
The trial of Arash Ganji, a literary activist, translator and secretary of the board of directors of the Iranian Writers’ Association, was held by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, chaired by Mohammad Reza Amouzad on Monday, December 28th, 2020.
In this court session, Arash Ganji and his lawyer Nasser Zarafshan presented their defenses regarding the charges against him.
Earlier, the trial of Arash Ganji was held in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Amouzad on Sunday, November 29th, 2020. Arash Ganji did not appear in court due to his coronavirus symptoms.
Arash Ganji, translator and secretary of the board of directors of the Writers’ Association, was temporarily released on bail from Evin Prison on Sunday, June 21st, 2020.
Earlier on Sunday, June 14th, 2020, Judge Moghiseh, the head of Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, arrested Mr. Ganji and sent him to Evin Prison by increasing the bail from 450 million tomans to 3 billion tomans.
Arash Ganji’s trial on charges of “membership and cooperation with an anti-regime group”, “conspiracy to act against national security” and “propaganda activities against the regime” was held by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran June 14th, 2020. With the bail increase by Judge Moghiseh, he was transferred to Evin Prison.
Mr. Ganji was arrested by several security officers at his home on the morning of Sunday, December 22nd, 2019. During the arrest, his house was searched and his personal belonging and documents were confiscated. After his arrest, this citizen was transferred to Ward 209 of the Ministry of Intelligence located in Evin Prison, and after 29 days, he was temporarily released from Evin Prison on 450 million Tomans bail.
The Iranian Writers’ Association also issued a statement at the time of the member’s arrest, condemning the detention of Arash Ganji and calling for his immediate and unconditional release and that of all political and ideological prisoners.