https://www.npr.org/2024/09/02/g-s1-20579/iran-sentenced-12-years-tweet-supreme-leader

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Iran writer Shanbehzadeh sentenced to 12 years after tweeting dot to
supreme leader Hossein Shanbehzadeh has been sentenced after replying
with a period in response to a post on the social platform X by
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Middle East

An Iranian writer is sentenced to 12 years after tweeting a dot at
the supreme leader

September 2, 20244:32 PM ET
Headshot of Jackie Northam

Jackie Northam

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a meeting with the
President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration, in Tehran, Iran, Aug.
27.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a meeting with the
President Masoud Pezeshkian's administration, in Tehran, Iran, Aug.
27. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/AP

An Iranian writer and activist has been sentenced to 12 years in
prison after replying with a single dot, or period, in response to a
post on the social platform X by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei.

Hossein Shanbehzadeh, a longtime critic of Iran's leadership, was
active on social media, supporting political prisoners and the
removal of mandatory headscarves for women. He was sent to prison in
2019 for his online comments insulting Khamenei. He later wrote about
the experience, including being flogged, according to Voice of
America.

In early June, 35-year-old Shanbehadeh was arrested in Ardabil,
northwestern Iran. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, he
told his family he wasn't sure why he was arrested, but it came
shortly after he posted the response to Khamenei's tweet, which
showed the Iranian leader with the country's national volleyball
team.

Sponsor Message


    The Islamic Republic's security forces on Tuesday arrested
    Iranian blogger, writer and proofreader Hossein Shanbehzadeh who,
    last month, posted a single dot in reply to Supreme Leader Ali
    Khamenei's tweet, and that comment was liked far more than
    Khamenei's original tweet.... pic.twitter.com/P4Bram1nr6

    -- Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) June 5, 2024

Shanbehzadeh's post received far more "likes" than Khamenei's
original tweet, according to Iran International English.

Culture

Iranian rapper receives death sentence for songs criticizing the
establishment

Shanbehzadeh is just the latest activist to be caught up in the
hard-line government's crackdown on critics. Iran watchers say the
leadership has felt insecure about the high level of dissent in the
country for a while. Artists, playwrights, directors and others are
also being swept up and given long prison sentences. In late April,
Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi was handed the death sentence for his
antigovernment videos.

Shanbehzadeh was sentenced to five years for alleged pro-Israel
propaganda activity, four years for insulting Islamic sanctities, two
years for spreading lies online and an additional year for
anti-regime propaganda.

His lawyer, Amir Raisian, told Shargh Network, a reformist newspaper
in Iran, that he would appeal the verdict, especially the accusation
of pro-Israel activity. The prosecutor's office in Ardabil alleged
that Shanbehzadeh had been in contact with Israeli intelligence
officers and was arrested when trying to leave the country, according
to Voice of America.

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