Ten-year prison sentence upheld for student Ali Sanei

Hengaw – Thursday, July 23, 2026

Branch 36 of the Tehran Province Court of Appeals has upheld the ten-year prison sentence imposed on Ali Sanei, a 22-year-old computer science student arrested during the January protests.

According to information received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, the ruling became final after the appeals court rejected Sanei's challenge and formally notified him of the decision. He is currently serving his sentence at Greater Tehran Prison, also known as Fashafouyeh Prison.

Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Amouzad, had previously convicted Sanei on charges including "insulting the Supreme Leader," "assembly and collusion against internal and external security," "propaganda against the state," and "cooperation with Israel," sentencing him to ten years in prison.

Iranian security forces arrested Sanei in Malard County on March 3, 2026. After completing interrogation at security detention facilities, he was transferred to Greater Tehran Prison.