An Iranian comedian has been sentenced to five years in prison after publishing a satirical video imitating the voice of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iran International reported Friday, citing the human rights website HRANA.
Saeed Shakiba was convicted of "assembly and collusion against national security" by Branch 28 of Tehran's Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Mohammadreza Amouzad. The ruling followed a court hearing last week and was delivered to Shakiba on Wednesday at the Greater Tehran Penitentiary, where he is being held.
Iran's judiciary had indicted him on charges including supporting Israel and the Pahlavi dynasty, state media reported on Oct. 25, days after authorities opened a case against him. The judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency said at the time that Tehran prosecutors acted after investigating what they called insulting and offensive content the comedian had published on Instagram.
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