UPDATE: (September 4, 2008) On 3 May 2008, Hadi Hamidi Shafigh, after surviving 5 months in prison, was released from the Central Prison of Orumieh. While in prison, Mr. Hamidi Shafigh was expelled from university.

Hadi Hamidi Shafigh (23) is an architecture student at Orumieh’s Azad University. Arrested on December 11, 2007, he is serving a 17- month prison term for “participating in an illegal gathering” and possession of material deemed “insulting to the Supreme Leader.”

Hamidi Shafigh is imprisoned in Orumieh’s Central prison. After his arrest on December 11, he was held by Orumieh’s Intelligence Bureau for a month before being put on trial. He was reportedly severely tortured and suffered two broken fingers. In two separate trials, Hamidi Shafigh received a ten month prison sentence for “participating in an illegal gathering,” and a seven month prison sentence for possessing CDs and materials, which the court evaluated as “insulting to the Supreme Leader.”