Page "Massoud Behnoud" Paragraph 4

After the crackdown on Iranian newspapers, Massoud Behnoud was imprisoned for 23 months.

Other well known journalists, including Mashallah Shamsolvaezin, Akbar Ganji, Emadeddin Baqi and Ebrahim Nabavi, were also jailed.

Behnoud was fined the equivalent of 15. 000 USD.

The court accused him of " having provoked public opinion, insulting the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic and the commander of the Revolutionary guards ".

Behnoud's imprisonment provoked condemnation from many international human rights groups, including Amnesty International, International PEN and Reporters Without Borders.