Majid Shia Ali Imprisoned on Political Charges

HRANA News Agency – today, February 4, 2025, Majid Shia Ali, a resident of Mashhad, was arrested and transferred to prison to serve his one-year and six-month sentence.

On January 20, 2025, Branch 991 of the Mashhad Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office ordered this political defendant to report within ten days to serve his sentence.

Previously, in May 2023, the Khorasan Razavi Court of Appeals sentenced him to two years and six months in prison, of which the longest enforceable term—one year and six months—is now being carried out.

In February 2023, the Mashhad Revolutionary Court had initially sentenced Shia Ali to six years and six months in prison on three charges: “membership in a group formed to disrupt national security,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “insulting the Supreme Leader.”

According to HRANA, his case was opened after he posted content on social media related to the 2022 nationwide protests.

Majid Shia Ali, a PhD student at Mashhad’s Azad University, was first arrested in late November 2022 and was released on bail in mid-February 2023 from Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad. During his 56-day detention, he spent 40 days in solitary confinement at one of the IRGC Intelligence detention facilities in Mashhad.

Student Majid Shia Ali Sentenced to Two Years and Six Months

Majid Shia Ali, a PhD student at the Islamic Azad University of Mashhad, has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison, with one year and six months being enforceable, according to Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code.

The Court of Appeals of Razavi Khorasan Province handed down the verdict, sentencing Shia Ali to one year and six months for ‘membership in groups inside the country to act against national security,’ six months for ‘propaganda against the regime,’ and six months for ‘insulting the Supreme Leader of Iran.’ The Mashhad Revolutionary Court had initially sentenced Shia Ali to six years and six months for these same charges.

According to reports obtained by HRANA, Shia Ali faced this legal case for publishing a post online about the 2022 nationwide protests.

In November 2022, Shia Ali was arrested and spent 56 in detention, including 40 days in solitary confinement in an IRGC detention facility. He was later released on bail from Vakilaad Prison in early February 2023.