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Iranwire – Iranian judiciary officials have sentenced a young protester to 15 years in prison on several charges – including lowering the Islamic Republic’s flag in the Kurdish city of Saqqez.
After enduring 35 days of detention in Sanandaj, Javanpour was ultimately transferred back to Saqqez, where he was handed the staggering 15-year prison sentence.
The Revolutionary Court of Saqqez, presided over by Keyvan Jahani, issued the sentencing, with the most severe penalty of 10 years in prison ended down for the charge of managing “a crowd of over two people to disrupt security.”
Ayoub Javanpour also faced allegations of organizing protest gatherings, which contributed to “disruptions” in security, “propaganda against the system” and “insulting the founder and leader of the Islamic Republic.”
IranWire sources say that Javanpour was a part-time electrician whose work was often interrupted by economic and work pressures.
Described by those who know him closely as bold and fearless, Javanpour has a history of joining protests and other demonstrations. He has, as a result, found himself entangled in several court cases, all stemming from his unwavering commitment to social activism.
His father’s house is located in a neighborhood that repeatedly saw restless nights during nationwide protests.
Saqqez, the hometown of Mahsa Amini, whose death in police custody in September 2022 sparked months-long protests, became a hotspot for the demonstrations. Javanpour was arrested during this tumultuous period.
After a brief period of detention, he was released, but his resolve remained unshaken. He reappeared at the forefront of protests, particularly during the wave of poisoning schoolgirls in Saqqez that began in April.
While chemical attacks had been witnessed in other cities before, the incident in Saqqez provoked widespread outrage. Parents, students, and protesters gathered in significant numbers in front of Bent Al-Hadi school in the city.
Anti-government slogans were chanted during the upheaval and the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran was pulled down. And although the available images do not provide a clear view of the individual who performed this act, accusations have been leveled against Javanpour in connection to this incident.
While the exact identity of the person who lowered the flag remains uncertain, Javanpour’s bold and spirited character has led many to believe he may be responsible for the symbolic action.
He was arrested on June 10, when security agents raided his father’s house in Saqqez and apprehended him, subsequently transferring him to Sanandaj city, the provincial capital of Kurdistan province.
The anguish faced by the Javanpour family paints a picture of the sufferings endured by the loved ones of political prisoners.
When his mother visited him in prison, she was met with a shocking sight. Javanpour appeared physically frail, bearing the evident marks of torture, a sight that hardly allowed her to accept that the figure before her was her own son, sources said.
