Artist Rahim Molaeian sentenced to six months in prison
Hengaw – Thursday, September 17, 2026
Rahim Molaeian, a 66-year-old painter and sculptor from Babol, Mazandaran Province, has been sentenced to six months in prison by Branch 1 of the Babol Revolutionary Court.
According to reports received by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Molaeian, a resident of Babol, was sentenced to six months in prison on the charge of “propaganda against the state.”
Informed sources said the case against the artist cited his paintings and critical posts shared through Instagram Stories as evidence supporting the charge.
His court hearing was held before the same branch on September 6, 2026. The sentence was issued and communicated to him on Sunday, September 13.
Security forces had previously searched Molaeian’s office, studio, and home in May 2026, temporarily seizing 28 of his paintings for 48 hours. He had also been interrogated by security forces on three occasions, with each session lasting four hours.
