Tehran Court Upholds 2.5-Year Sentence for Kurdish Writer Sajjad Haeri

TEHRAN — The Tehran Provincial Court of Appeals has fully upheld a two-year and six-month prison sentence for Sajjad Haeri, a Kurdish writer, screenwriter, and language teacher originally from Ilam and residing in Tehran.

A knowledgeable source confirmed the report to Kurdpa, stating that nearly a week ago, the 30-month custodial sentence—previously issued against Haeri by the Revolutionary Court across two separate judicial cases—was fully affirmed by the Tehran Court of Appeals and officially served to him.

Security forces originally raided Haeri’s family home on July 12, 2025, arresting him without a legal warrant and seizing personal belongings, including his laptop, mobile phone, and dozens of Kurdish language books. He was temporarily released from the IRGC’s Alef-1 detention facility on July 21, 2025, after posting a 500 million toman bail on charges of "propaganda against the state."

Judicial authorities opened a second case against Haeri shortly after, bringing him before the Revolutionary Public Prosecutor's Office on August 3, 2025. He was charged with "disturbing public opinion through the dissemination of falsehoods" and granted a second temporary release on a one billion toman bail.

In early autumn 2025, the Revolutionary Court of Damavand consolidated the charges and handed down the 30-month custodial sentence. The court also levied supplementary penalties, imposing a two-year ban on Haeri’s membership in political or social groups and ordering the seizure of media outlets and institutions linked to the alleged offenses.

Haeri is an Ilam native currently residing in the Damavand district of Tehran. He is also the brother of Ahmad Haeri, a political prisoner currently incarcerated in Karaj’s Ghezel Hesar Prison.