Mohammad Seifzadeh, one of the founders of the Human Rights Defenders Centre, has had his sentence reduced to two years from the nine years handed out by the preliminary court.
RAHANA Human Rights House of Iran reports that Seifzadeh is being held in Ward 350 of Evin Prison.
In November, the prominent Iranian human rights lawyer was sentenced to nine years in prison and a 10-year ban from practising law. He was charged with “collusion and assembly in an attempt to disrupt national security, propaganda activity against the regime and the establishment of Human Rights Defenders Centre.”
Seifzadeh, who disappeared in March was finally reported to have been arrested in Orumiyeh and charged with “intent to leave the country illegally.”
Marzieh Nikara, Seifzadeh’s attorney, said her client denies the charge and maintains that he was in Orumiyeh doing research.
In the crackdown on anti-government protesters that followed the 2009 election, several human rights lawyers have been arrested and prosecuted by the Islamic Republic on similar charges.
