An Iranian couple in Isfahan province has been sentenced to prison by the Islamic Republic’s authorities for various charges, including “keeping a cat.”

The couple, Niloufar Ghazaleh and Mohammad Ali Moghimi, had been embroiled in a legal case with the judiciary for over a year.

The case initially began due to mandatory hijab enforcement and later escalated following police visits to their workplace in a village, according to the Shargh newspaper.

According to their lawyer, Milad Panahipour, on October 4, 2023, police officers visited the couple’s workplace, a recreational residence, where a dispute arose over the entry permit and identification cards.

The following day, the couple presented a petition signed by residents criticizing the police’s actions to the head of the Khur city judiciary.

This resulted in the formation of a defamation case against them, leading to a verdict that imposed punishment and ordered the closure of their workplace.

Panahipour reported that Niloufar Ghazaleh was sentenced to “74 lashes for insulting a police officer, a fine of 240 million rials ($400) for insulting a conscript, 74 lashes for threatening officers, one year in prison and 74 lashes for disturbing public order, and another two years in prison for spreading false information.”

Her husband, Mohammad Ali Moghimi, was sentenced to two years in prison for “illegal removal of the closure seal” and one year for “threatening public health by keeping a cat.”

The appeals court rejected only one of the nine charges against the couple, affirming the other eight.

According to Panahipour, Niloufar Ghazaleh is currently facing a one-year prison sentence, while her husband must serve a two-year prison sentence.

The legal case against the couple began last year when police stopped Ghazaleh’s car for “improper hijab,” leading to charges filed by the judiciary.

Source » iranwire