Award-winning Iranian journalist receives jail term

Emadeddin Baghi

Emadeddin Baghi, award-winning Iranian journalist and head of the Association for the Defense of Detainee Rights was sentenced to a year in prison and a five-year ban from political and media activities.

Jaras opposition website reports that Baghi’s charge is “propaganda against the regime.”

Emadeddin Baghi was temporarily released on bail on June 23 after 180 days in prison. He is awaiting another trial in August on charges brought up against him for his appearance in an interview with the late dissident Grand Ayatollah Montazeri on Persian BBC.

During his time in prison, he was held over 150 days in solitary confinement. Baghi was first arrested in 2000 and held in prison for two years.

He was arrested once more in 2007 and charged with “propaganda against the regime and promotion of dissident groups.”

The last time, Baghi was arrested in the wave of post-election arrest of reformists in December of 2009.

Baghi won the prestigious Martin Ennals Award for his human rights activities which include a tireless campaign against the death penalty in Iran.