A prominent Iranian journalist of Arab ethnicity has been sentenced to five years in jail, according to ADN Kronos International (AKI). Yousuf Ben Azizi, was found guilty of 'subversive activities' after he published several articles three years ago after protests in the city of Ahwaz and other southern Iranian cities inhabited by Arabs.
"My client was found guilty of subversive activities with the aim of endangering national security," said Ben Azizi's lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht.
Ben Azizi is the author of 25 novels and essays in Persian and Arabic. He is also a member of the Writers Association and has written in major newspapers for years.
