Emad Baghi

On 21 September 2010, human rights defender Mr Emad Baghi was sentenced to six years in prison. When added to a previous sentence, he now faces a seven-year term in prison, in addition to five years of “civil deprivation”.

Further Information

Emad Baghi is a prominent human rights defender, writer and winner of the Martin Ennals Award 2009 for his work as founder of the Society for the Defence of Prisoners' Rights.

Emad Baghi's trial opened on 17 August 2010 in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Pir Abasi. The human rights defender was charged with propaganda against the system and colluding against the security of the regime. Emad Baghi has reported that during interrogations he was questioned about his criticism of the death penalty, his work with human rights organisations and his activities defending prisoners' rights, in addition to his interview with the late Ayatollah.

His prosecution follows an interview he filmed with the late Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, a critic of the Iranian regime, which was broadcast on BBC Persian a month after Montazeri's death in January 2010. Emad Baghi was arrested shortly afterwards before his eventual release on bail in June. Front Line previously issued an urgent appeal on the case on 23 June 2010.

In a separate case, Emad Baghi had already been sentenced in August 2010 to one year in prison and five years of “civil deprivation” which prohibits participation in civic activities, by Judge Salavati in Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court. It has been reported that this sentence was upheld on appeal on 21 September. This case was brought against him in relation to his work on prisoners' rights. This brings Emad Baghi's sentence to a total of seven years in prison. He remains free pending an appeal on his case.

Emad Baghi has spent four and a half of the last ten years in prison, despite suffering from significant health problems. Most recently he was sentenced to three years imprisonment in 2007 for “activities against national security” and “publicity in favour of the regime's opponents”, as a result of his criticism of the death penalty.

Please see the previous Front Line Urgent Appeal of 23 June 2010 on this case.