HRANA – The Appeals Court of the Special Clerical Court has upheld the prison sentence and defrocking order against Shiite cleric Mohammad-Taghi Akbarnejad. In the initial ruling, he had been sentenced to 23 months and six days in prison, along with three years of defrocking from the clergy.
A page attributed to this cleric reported that the Appeals Court of the Special Clerical Court confirmed in full both his prison sentence and defrocking order. In the lower court, he had been sentenced to eight months and one day in prison on the charge of “acting against the regim,” and to 15 months and five days in prison for “insulting the leaders of the Islamic Revolution.” Additionally, he was sentenced to three years of defrocking on the charge of “dishonoring the clergy.”
Mr. Akbarnejad was released from Qom Prison in March 2024 after posting bail. His arrest had taken place on February 17, 2024, by agents of the IRGC Intelligence.
In an earlier audio message sent to HRANA, Akbarnejad described being pressured to make forced confessions.
Mr. Akbarnejad, a Shiite cleric and former professor at the Qom Seminary, has previously faced judicial action due to his activities.
