Recently, Branch 101 of the Criminal Court of Boroujen County sentenced 22 citizens to a total of 160 years imprisonment, 1480 lashes and fines for a protest that took place seven years ago against an under-construction water transfer project channeling water from Sabzkuh to Boroujen.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, in Boroujen County, 22 citizens were sentenced to imprisonment and flogging for a peaceful protest against a water transfer project.

Twenty citizens were sentenced each to one year and 74 lashes on the charge of “disturbing public order” and 7 years in prison on the charge of “destruction of public property”. Two other citizens were sentenced each to a fine in the amount of 2 million tomans as an alternative to three months imprisonment. Based on these verdicts, the prison sentences 10 citizens to be suspended for two years.

An informed source told HRANA that: “In 2015, these citizens protested against the digging of a water transfer tunnel, at the headspring Alugareh and the construction site by holding symbolic mourning ceremonies. The project did not have permits from the Department of Environment. The protestors rejected all accusations from the beginning” 

Nonetheless, in 2020, the Public and Revolutionary Court of Boroujen found these citizens guilty.