Mehdi Bahman, a political prisoner held in Evin Prison, has been sentenced to five years and one month in prison by Branch 54 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Bahman’s sentence was issued following a retrial ordered by the Supreme Court.
Previously, Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court had issued the same sentence against Bahman. However, after his appeal was accepted, the Supreme Court overturned the ruling and referred the case back to Branch 54 for reconsideration.
In the initial stages of his case, Bahman faced charges of espionage. He was later acquitted of this accusation during the appeal process and ultimately sentenced to five years in prison.
Bahman was arrested on October 13, 2022, by security forces at his home and subsequently transferred to Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is operated by the Ministry of Intelligence.
Mehdi Bahman is an author and illustrator known for his work in illuminating religious texts, including the Torah, Psalms, Gospel, and the Book of Ezra. His illustrated version of the Psalms is held in the Library of Congress, while his illuminated Book of Ezra is housed in Israel.
