An Iranian-Canadian blogger who ran afoul of the Tehran government for his online posts and provocative statements has reportedly been sentenced to spend more than 19 years in prison.
The online website Mashreghnews.ir reports that Hossein Derakhshan has been convicted of several offences including spreading propaganda against the ruling establishment and insulting Islamic thoughts and religious figures.
He was also convicted of co-operating with hostile countries and promoting counter-revoluntionary groups, according to the online report, which says the 35-year-old Derakhshan will be able to appeal the ruling.
The website that issued the report is closely linked to the presidential office in Iran.
Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon expressed his concern on Tuesday, sounding out against the severe sentence.
Cannon said Canadian officials were still trying to confirm the Iranian reports and have attempted to gain access to Derakhshan through the consulate.
"If true, this is completely unacceptable and unjustifiable. Canada believes that no one should be punished anywhere for simply exercising one's inherent right to freedom of expression," he said in a statement.
Derakhshan's situation is complicated by his dual citizenship, which Iran does not recognize. "Iran must release him and other dual-nationals who have been unjustly detained," Cannon said.
Journalism groups in Canada had raised concerns last week that Derakhshan could face a potential death sentence.
In December 2008, the Iranian government confirmed that Derakhshan was in jail, weeks after reports emerged that he had been arrested.
It is not clear if the time Derakhshan has already served will be applied to his sentence.
Ten years ago, Derakhshan moved to Canada to attend university.
The following year he posted online instructions on how to publish blogs in Farsi, which popularized the practice of blogging within Iran. As a result, Derakhshan became known as the "blogfather."
In 2006, he used his Canadian passport to travel to Israel, an event that he then admitted could prevent him from returning to Iran.
"This might mean that I won't be able to go back to Iran for a long time, since Iran doesn't recognize Israel... and apparently considers travelling there illegal. Too bad, but I don't care," he said.
He initially wrote critical comments about Iran's clerical leadership, but later praised Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his dealings with the West.
In Toronto on Tuesday, the manager of the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression was trying to make contact with Derakhshan's family.
CJFE manager Julie Payne said she was personally "shocked by the news" of the 19 1/2–year sentence and that her organization had yet to speak to his family.
With files from The Canadian Press and The Associated Press
