Iran court jails rights activist for 'waging war against God'

London, Sept.20 (ANI): An Iranian court has jailed a prominent human rights activist and journalist for six years after convicting her of "waging war against God" and other charges.

According to The Guardian, Shiva Nazar Ahari, 26, was convicted of the crime known as "moharebeh" - usually punishable by death.

The founder of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters in Tehran, was also convicted of plotting to commit crimes and agitating against the ruling system, Iran's semi-official ILNA news agency reported.

Ahari was fined about 250 pounds as a substitute for receiving 76 lashes. The activist's family and supporters say the charges were politically motivated.

She was arrested in December on her way to the funeral of Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, the spiritual mentor of the Green movement, which opposed the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last June.

Her supporters have voiced particular objection to the allegation behind the charge of moharebeh, which is that she was a member of the banned Mojahedin e-Khalq group, accused by the Iranian regime of terrorist activities. Her family says she deplores the organisation.

Ahari's lawyer, Mohammad Sharif, was quoted as saying he was "shocked" to learn that his client had been convicted of moharebeh, saying there was "no legal basis for this charge against her".

He said he planned to file an appeal. Following her arrest, Ahar was held at the Evin prison, in Tehran, with little access to her lawyer or family members.

She reportedly spent long periods in solitary confinement. (ANI)