Ilam: Two-Year Prison Sentence for Arman Shadivand, Singer and Composer, Upheld Without Change

On Monday, May 19, 2025, the two-year prison sentence against Arman Shadivand, a singer and composer from Darreh Shahr in Ilam province, was upheld in full by Branch 9 of the Ilam Province Court of Appeals. He had also previously been sentenced to 30 lashes in a separate case. The original prison sentence was issued by Branch 2 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Ilam County.

According to the verdict issued by Branch 9 of the Appeals Court—presided over by Taleb Dehgonbadi (head of the branch) and Ali-Asghar Sharifi (associate judge)—Arman Shadivand was sentenced to 16 months of discretionary imprisonment for “insulting the Supreme Leader” and 8 months for “propaganda against the regime.”

Case One: 2-Year Imprisonment by Revolutionary Court
In November 2024, Arman Shadivand was summoned to Branch 2 of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Darreh Shahr, where, following the presentation of charges, a formal indictment was issued. On November 25, 2024, he was temporarily released on bail pending trial.

The trial was held on January 20, 2025, in Branch 2 of the Ilam Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Dariush Piri. Following the initial verdict, Shadivand filed an appeal, but on May 19, 2025, Branch 9 of the Appeals Court upheld the original sentence in full.

Case Two: Sentencing to 30 Lashes by Criminal Court

In a separate case, according to a verdict dated March 17, 2025, Arman Shadivand faced charges of:

“Propaganda against the regime”

“Insulting officials and agents”

“Propaganda in favor of groups or organizations opposed to the regime”

Ultimately, for “insulting President Ebrahim Raisi,” he was sentenced to 30 lashes by Branch 101 of the Second Criminal Court of Darreh Shahr, presided over by Judge Ayoob Alijani.

He was, however, acquitted of the charge of insulting Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah, due to lack of evidence.

In issuing this sentence, the court considered statements made by Arman Shadivand during interrogations and interactions with intelligence and security officers as constituting insult. The report from the security officers was accepted as the main source of evidence, and the court issued the flogging sentence without citing specific examples of the alleged insults.