United News of Bangladesh

Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has been handed additional prison sentences totalling seven and a half years, her lawyer said on Sunday. Mostafa Nili said a court in the north eastern city of Mashhad sentenced the prominent human rights activist to six years in prison on charges of gathering and collusion, and another one and a half years for what it called propaganda activities. Mohammadi was arrested in December after attending a memorial ceremony where, according to authorities, she made provocative remarks. Her family said she was beaten during the arrest and later taken to hospital. Nili said he spoke to Mohammadi for the first time since mid December and confirmed that the court also imposed a two year travel ban and ordered her two years of internal exile to the eastern Khusf region. The Narges Foundation, which supports Mohammadi, described the trial held on Saturday as a sham and said she began a hunger strike on February 2. According to Nili, she was taken to hospital three days ago due to poor health before being returned to detention. Mohammadi’s husband, Taghi Rahmani, said she refused to defend herself in court, insisting that the judiciary had no legitimacy and that the proceedings were pre decided. He called the verdict cruel and unjust, and urged international human rights groups to protest. Her daughter, Kiana Rahmani, said the family was deeply worried about her mother’s condition. The 53 year old activist has already spent more than a decade in prison. The Narges Foundation said the latest ruling brings the total prison time ordered against her to 44 years. Since 2021, Mohammadi has been serving a 13 year sentence on charges related to propaganda and state security, which she denies. She was granted temporary medical release from Tehran’s Evin prison in December last year but was expected to return shortly after. Her latest arrest followed her attendance at a memorial for lawyer Khosrow Alikordi, who was found dead in his office in early December. Human rights groups have called for an independent investigation into his death. Iranian prosecutors said Mohammadi was among dozens arrested for encouraging slogan chanting and disturbing public order. Rights groups, however, say she was attacked by plainclothes security agents during the memorial. Mohammadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023 for her long standing campaign against the oppression of women and for human rights in Iran.   With inputs from BBC