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Alert

Blogger Mojtaba Saminejad gets two-year prison sentence

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has voiced deep concern about the fate of 25-year-old blogger Mojtaba Saminejad, who has been sentenced to two years in prison by a Tehran Revolutionary Court for "insulting the Supreme Guide". He will also be tried soon on a separate charge of "insulting the prophets", which carries a possible death penalty.

The organisation urged all bloggers to mobilise on behalf of the blogger, who was arrested on 12 February 2005.

"All blogosphere messages of solidarity are welcome," RSF said. "We know that these messages reach the prisoners and help put pressure on the Iranian authorities, especially in the run-up to the presidential election. It is vital for people to talk about Mojtaba."

Mojtaba's lawyer, Mohammad Saifzadeh, said the two-year sentence was handed down after a hearing on 23 May in which his client was not allowed to speak freely. To intimidate him, the authorities had him accompanied in court by the police officers who interrogated him in prison.

Mojtaba will appear in court again on 22 June to be tried on a charge of "insulting the prophets and the holy imams". This extremely serious accusation could result in a conviction for apostasy, which carries the death penalty under Article 512 of the Islamic Criminal Code.

Various initiatives are underway on the Internet in support of Mojtaba. Internet users have dedicated a blog to him in both English (http://mojtaba-samienejad.blogspot.com) and Farsi (http://en-mojtaba-samienejad.blogspot.com). Some 50 Iranian bloggers are openly backing him. The Penlog bloggers group has also firmly condemned his conviction (see http://penlog.blogspot.com/2005/06/blog-post_05.html).

For more information on the case, go to: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=12564