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British-Iranian woman jailed for a year for spreading “propaganda against regime” following a secret hearing

Ghoncheh Ghavami, 25-year-old British-Iranian woman, detained in Iran for trying to watch a volleyball game has been sentenced to one year in a notorious prison, the Guardian says.

Ghavami, who is a law graduate from London, was found guilty of spreading “propaganda against the regime” following a secret hearing at Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. She has been detained for 127 days in prison since being arrested on 20 June in Tehran’s stadium, where Iran’s national volleyball team was to play Italy. Although she had been released within a few hours after the initial arrest she was re-arrested days later.

Ghavami’s brother said the family was “exhausted” by the court verdict, expressing deep disappointment for not setting her free on bail immediately.

No reason was given for the conviction though Ghavami had been accused of spreading propaganda against the regime, a broad charge often used by Iran’s judiciary.

A petition on the site Change.org started by Iman has amassed more than 700,000 signatories calling for Ghavami’s release.

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