GVF — An Iranian court has sentenced a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war to five years in prison, a $40,000 fine and thirty lashes.
According to opposition website Kaleme, war-hero Isa Faridi was arrested during the massive post-election crackdowns that followed Iran’s widely disputed 2009 presidential election. He was subsequently jailed and taken to ward 2A of Evin Prison, a section run by the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC).
Faridi spent six months in jail, 110 days of which was in solitary confinement, before being released on a heavy bail of around $310,000.
The recent court ruling against him was handed down by Judge Salavati, known for issuing draconian sentences against activists.
In April 2011, the European Union imposed travel bans and other sanctions against Salavati and 31 other Iranian officials including police commanders and prison wardens for having committed human rights abuses.
