Branch 17 of the Court of Appeals of Khuzestan Province upheld the verdict against Hamed Mortazavi, who was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court of Mahshahr City to four years and six months in prison and a ban from leaving the country.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, the resident of Bebhaban City received eight months for the charge of “propaganda against the regime”, one year and forty days for the charge of “offensive statements against the former and current supreme leader of Iran”, and two years and seven and half months for the charge of “membership in groups and gathering of more than two people in intention to disturb national security”. Moreover, he has been banned from leaving the country for two years and is required to study a book of Mohsen Qara’ati (an Iranian Shia cleric) within six months and pass an exam on it.

From these charges, ground in Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code, the severest punishment namely two years and seven and half months for the third charge is enforceable. In the initial trial, he was acquitted on the count of “blasphemy”.

On October 31, 2017, intelligence agents arrested and transferred him to a detention centre at the disposal of the Ministry of Intelligence in Behbahan City. The next day, he was sent to Behbahan Prison. It is said that during interrogation, he was subjected to torture and beating. After a while, he was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.