JURIST - Paper Chase: Iran court sentences ex-VP for role in post-election unrest

[JURIST] Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Court has sentenced former vice president and reformer Mohammad Ali Abtahi [archived blog profile] to six years in jail for his role in the unrest that followed the disputed June 12 presidential elections [JURIST news archive], according to Iranian news agencies Saturday. Abtahi, who had been in custody since just after the election has been temporarily released on $700,000 bail [IRNA report] pursuant to Iranian law which allows any person sentenced to more than three months in jail to be released on bail pending appeal. He served as vice president under Mohammad Khatami [BBC profile] from 1997 to 2005. Abtahi has 20 days to appeal his sentence.

Last week, an Iranian court sentenced five people to death [JURIST report] for their roles in post election protests. In August, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] called [JURIST report] for the prosecution of opposition leaders who allegedly conspired to orchestrate widespread protests.