(5 May 2008) Abbas Khorsandi, a political activist held in Evin Prison, is sentenced to eight years in prison solely for his political beliefs and internet writings.

Plainclothes intelligence agents detained Khorsandi at his shop in Firoozkooh, a town outside Tehran, on 9 September 2006. On the same day, intelligence agents raided and searched his home but could not find any incriminating evidence to confiscate.He was held in incommunicado detention for three months in Evin prison. The authorities subsequently charged him with “acting against national security through formation of an illegal association.” Khorsandi founded the Iran Democratic Party, whose activities were limited to publishing internet writings and involved only five other people who communicated their political views.

He was put on trial on 4 March 2007. The presiding Judge Salavati announced an eight- year prison sentence on 17 March 2007.

According to his lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, Khorsandi’s activities involved only expressing his peaceful opinions on the internet and his sentencing is not justified under any circumstance. Dadkhah has appealed his sentence to Branch 36 of Tehran’s revolutionary Court, which is reviewing it.

Khorsandi remains in Evin prison. According to his associates, he is in ill health.