Activist Lashed 74 Times for “Insulting” Ahmadinejad

Persian2English – The sentence of 74 lashes for Peyman Aref was executed today in Evin prison prior to his scheduled release.

Samira Jamshidi, Mr. Aref’s wife confirmed the news to Human Rights House of Iran. She had stated that the sentence was executed after her husband’s one-year prison sentence had come to an end and he was about to be released.

In March 2010, the Tehran Revolutionary Court had sentenced the political activist to 74 lashes for “Insulting the President”. The court also sentenced him to a one-year prison term and a lifetime ban from journalism and political activities, including membership in political parties.

Samira Jamshidi described her husband to be in “good” spirits, but there are reports that he is not in good physical condition, and his back has been “severely” damaged and wounded as a result of the lashes.

Journalist Peyman Aref is a former student activist and member of the National Front of Iran.

He was arrested in the early days following the disputed June 2009 Iranian presidential election. In April 2010 he suffered a heart attack from the pressures he endured in prison and was transferred to a hospital. In the same month Peyman Aref was temporarily released from prison while awaiting the decision of the appeals court. He was re-arrested and transferred to ward 350 of Evin prison on in February 2011 to serve the remainder of his prison sentence.

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