Iran sentences prominent journalist to 3 years in prison

TEHRAN, Iran — The lawyer of prominent Iranian journalist says a court has sentenced his client to three years in prison on charges of insulting authorities and spreading propaganda against the ruling system.

Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his client, Isa Saharkhiz, who was detained in November, can appeal the verdict within the next 20 days.

The lawyer says the verdict was announced on Monday and that Saharkhiz got two years for insulting authorities and one year for spreading propaganda.

Saharkhiz was recently hospitalized because of a heart problem. His detention came amid a campaign that saw the arrests of other cultural figures critical of Iran’s clerical system.

Saharkhiz had been released in 2013 after serving nearly five years in prison on similar charges.