Arrested Iranian Scholar Saeed Madani Transferred to Damavand Prison

Saeed Madani, a sociologist, university professor, and prominent researcher in social sciences, was transferred to Damavand Prison, IranWire reports. 

Authorities acted at the request of the Ministry of Intelligence and with the prosecution's approval to transfer him.

In January 2022, Madani received a nine-year prison sentence from the Revolutionary Court.

The charges against Madani included "forming and leading anti-establishment groups," "conspiracy to undermine national security," and "propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran."

Judge Ali Mazloum of Branch 29 convicted Madani of the first two charges: "forming anti-government groups" and "propaganda against the Islamic Republic." 

He sentenced Madani to eight years for the first charge and one year for the second, amounting to nine years in total.

The accusations stemmed primarily from Madani's public writings analyzing and describing various aspects of contemporary Iranian society.

Madani was arrested in May last year. Since then, He has been held in Evin prison under a temporary detention order.

Madani's research focuses on social movements and social issues such as addiction, domestic violence, prostitution, and child abuse.

Madani has a history of arrests and convictions on political charges.