Iranian Poet Sattar Rezaei Handed Suspended Prison Term

A Revolutionary Court in the central Iranian province of Isfahan has sentenced poet, translator and political activist Sattar Rezaei to three years’ suspended imprisonment, IranWire has nearned. 

"In my view, suspended imprisonment amounts to a form of psychological torture for the accused. This type of punishment is often used to isolate political activists," a source close to the Rezaei family said.

Rezaei was arrested in November 2021 after taking part in farmers' protests in Isfahan and faced charges including "connection with anti-revolutionary elements abroad," "spreading false information in cyberspace," "disparaging the leadership" and "engaging in propaganda activities" against the Islamic Republic. 

He was later released on bail.

His sentencing comes amid an escalation in the authorities' crackdown on civil society and political activists ahead of the September 16 anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in police custody.