Iranian woman sentenced to three years in prison for comment on Netanyahu social media post

An Iranian woman, Azar Yahu, 39, was sentenced to three years in prison by Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad for commenting on a social media post by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One year is to be served, two suspended. She was charged with 'cooperation with Israel' and 'acting against national security' for using heart stickers on posts by Netanyahu and Trump, and for allegedly expressing joy over the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Human rights groups reported the case.

Azar Yahu, a 39-year-old Iranian woman, was sentenced to three years in prison by Branch 4 of the Revolutionary Court in Mashhad for commenting on a social media post by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One year is to be served, two years suspended. Human rights groups reported the sentence. She was charged with 'cooperation with Israel' over the single comment, according to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights. The Iranian legal advocacy network Dadbaan reported she was also charged with 'acting against national security' for using heart stickers on Instagram posts by US President Donald Trump and Netanyahu, and for allegedly expressing joy over the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. During detention, Yahu was denied outside contact, including with her family, after allegedly attempting to publish a statement about detention conditions, according to Human Rights Activists News Agency and Iran International. Dadbaan reported she remained in detention at Central Prison of Mashhad despite posting bail, after security officials and prison authorities allegedly obstructed her release. Sepideh Gholian, an activist and former political prisoner, claimed Yahu was held in isolation in a ward with 'inhumane conditions,' including 24-hour locked cells, poor hygiene, no ventilation, and lack of kitchen and healthy food.