Iranian blogger Mehdi Khazali has been sentenced to 13 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 10 years in exile.
Khazali was arrested about a month ago and has been on a hunger strike in prison.
The outspoken blogger and ophthalmologist has been detained a number of times in the past two years for writing critically about Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad and the regime’s policies.
Iranian authorities have lately been taking an even harder line against bloggers and people who use social media. Last week, they arrested two peoplewho had organized an online beauty contest on “Facebook.”
Khazali’s lawyer told RFE/RL’s Radio Farda that he will appeal the sentence.
(Iranian state media, Radio Farda)
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