Former protege of Iranian leader sentenced to jail and lashes after criticizing him
Mohammad Nourizad, Iranian filmmaker and writer, and an avid supporter of Islamic revolution and Ayatollah Khamenei (Iranian leader), after writing a series of critical but supportive letters to the leader, was sentenced in April to 3.5 years in prison and 80 lashes on charges of "insulting" and propaganda against the regime.
Yesterday, underground reformist publication "Kalameh" disclosed Nourizad's recent meeting with Tehran's prosecutor in Evin prison, in which the prosecutor had asked Nourizad to "write to the esteemed leader and ask for pardon/forgiveness." Nourizad has apparently refused because he believes he has not committed any crimes or sins. After his refusal to seek leader's forgiveness, today, Nourizad's sentence was confirmed in the Appellate Revolutionary Court.
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