Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, daughter of former Iran president, to begin serving prison sentence

July 31, 2016

By Jill Langlois

Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani, daughter of former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, has arrived at Iran's notorious Evin prison to begin serving a six-month sentence for making anti-government statements.

Faezeh Hashemi was picked up by authorities late Saturday, reported CNN. She was arrested last year for taking part in anti-government protests and making propaganda against the ruling system. The former MP will be carrying out her sentence in Evin's security unit, a relatively comfortable section of the prison.

In the past, Faezeh Hashemi's father was one of the government's most vocal critics. He served two terms as president from 1989 to 1997 and is widely believed to be one of the wealthiest and most politically powerful men in Iran. He has also long been a critic and bitter political rival of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Earlier this year a court convicted her and banned her from political activity for five years. Her lawyer said the accusations were related to interviews she gave to news websites.

According to the Associated Press, Faezeh Hashemi has also been banned from political activity for five years. Her lawyer said the accusations were related to interviews she gave to news websites.

Businessweek noted that Faezeh Hashemi's trial started in December and that she was convicted in January. She had previously been arrested twice for joining anti-government rallies following unrest in Iran triggered by Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election in 2009.