Iran: Two Musicians and a Filmmaker in Imminent Danger of Imprisonment

In May 2015 Branch 28 of Tehran's Revolutionary Court, presided by Judge Moghiseh, sentenced each of them to six years in prison and a 20 million toman fine (about $6,600 USD). In an appeals court hearing the fine was reportedly upheld while the six-year prison sentence was reduced to three years in prison and three years suspended imprisonment. They are each charged with insulting Islamic sanctities, propaganda against the regime, and Illicit financial gain through audiovisual activities. 

Mehdi and Yousef are musicians who were running a popular music streaming website called BargMusic. Additionally, Mehdi had just completed his first music album and was set to release it online. Following their arrest in autumn 2013, Iranian authorities confiscated all of Mehdi's music and also shut down BargMusic. Hossein Rajabian, a filmmaker, was arrested for producing a film, "The Upside Down Triangle", about a woman's right to divorce in Iran. Hossein recently posted a medium free quality version of his film online in order to protest against the prison sentences.