Sentenced to 9 Years and 3 Months in Prison: Rasoul Salehi, Detained During the January Protests
6-May-2026
Category: Prisoners
5 May 2026
News Group: Imprisonment Sentences –
Breathing in Confinement: Rasoul Salehi, one of those arrested during the January 2026 protests, has been sentenced to 9 years and 3 months of discretionary imprisonment.
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news outlet of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, based on information published by Rasoul Salehi’s brother on his account on the social media platform X, this citizen was sentenced by the Revolutionary Court on charges including “providing means for committing the crime of assembly and collusion against national security,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” “propaganda activity against the regime,” and “spreading falsehoods,” receiving a total sentence of 9 years and 3 months of discretionary imprisonment.
Rasoul Salehi, a resident of Yazdanshahr, was arrested during this year’s January protests in the city. It is reported that he was detained on 6 January following the publication of a protest video reacting to the killing of a teenager and raising demands including the release of detainees.
According to the report, the court imposed 5 years of imprisonment for the charge of “providing means for committing the crime of assembly and collusion,” 2 years for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” 1 year and 3 months for “propaganda activity against the regime,” and 1 year of discretionary imprisonment for “spreading falsehoods.”
However, under Article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code (the rule governing multiple offences), if the verdict becomes final, only the harshest punishment — namely 5 years of imprisonment — will be enforceable, unless specific legal conditions exist for enforcing more than one sentence.
Following Rasoul Salehi’s arrest, reports indicate that a number of residents of Yazdanshahr held a protest gathering demanding his release.