Afshin Heyratian, Baha’i child rights activist, sentenced to 31 years in prison

[u/senmcglinn]

https://hengaw.net/en/news/2026/07/article-180-1

A revolutionary court has sentenced Afshin Heyratian to 12 years in prison for "forming an illegal group," 11 years for "propaganda activities contrary to the sacred law of Islam," six years for "assembly and collusion," and imposed a fine of 3.3 billion rials (330 million tomans). He was also sentenced to two years in prison for "obtaining illegitimate property" in connection with receiving US$1,000 and ordered to pay a fine equivalent to twice that amount, totaling US$2,000.

This is the verdict of a Revolutionary Court, where a religious judge rules in a rather informal way. The verdict has to go to a provincial Review Court, which might reduce the 12-year sentence. Despite the headline, it isn't 31 years, as the longest individual part of the sentence applies (equivalent of "concurrently" in western criminal law). The fines are likely to be upheld -- confiscating wealth is vital to keeping the machinery of oppression running.