Iran sentences British-Iranian activist Ghoncheh Ghavami over volleyball game A British-Iranian woman detained in Iran after trying to watch a mens volleyball match has been sentenced to a year in prison, her lawyer says. Ghoncheh Ghavami, 25, was found guilty of spreading anti-regime propaganda, lawyer Alizadeh Tabatabaie said. Iran banned women from volleyball games in 2012, extending a long-standing ban on football matches. The Iranian authorities have argued that women need protection from the lewd behaviour of male fans. Britains Foreign Office said it was concerned about the sentence. We have concerns about the grounds for this prosecution, due process during the trial, and Miss Ghavamis treatment whilst in custody, it said in a statement. Amnesty International has described Ms Ghavami, who is from Shepherds Bush in west London, as a prisoner of conscience, and called for her immediate release. More than 700,000 people have signed an online petition urging the authorities to free her. The graduate of the University of Londons School of African and Oriental Studies was part of a group of women who tried to watch Iran play Italy in a match on 20 June. The women were arrested and allegedly beaten before being freed. Ms Ghavami was rearrested later and subsequently put on trial. She launched a hunger strike in October after being held in isolation cells.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 14:41:47 +0000
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