Laleh Hassanpour Summoned to Serve her Conviction

HRANA News Agency – Laleh Hassanpour, a human rights activist and blogger, was convicted by the thirty-sixth branch of Tehran’s Appeals Court and sentenced to five years in prison. She has been subsequently ordered to report to prison to begin serving her sentence.

According to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), Laleh Hassanpour was previously sentenced by Judge Peerabasi to one year imprisonment and four years of suspended prison term. This ruling has been upheld by the Appeals Court.

Allegations filed against this civil rights advocate include membership in Human Rights Activists organization, reporting for HRANA News Agency, waging crimes and social conspiracy, propaganda against the regime, blasphemy and insulting the president.

Following the Appeals Court decision to uphold the conviction, Laleh Hassanpour’s case has been transferred to Evin prison, and she has been summoned to serve her sentence.

On Tuesday March 16, 2011, in a widespread attack against Human Rights Activists organization, the intelligence unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard targeted all former and current human rights advocates throughout Iran and arrested Laleh Hassanpour in her house. She was locked up in solitary confinement for 70 days in ward 2A of Evin prison and then released on bail.

During her incarceration, Laleh Hassanpour was placed under undo pressure by investigators in order to force televised confessions.