Tehran`s Revolutionary Court has started the trial and issued a sentence for Majid Tavakoli.

According to the student section of Human Rights Activists in Iran, Majid Tavakoli, a prominent student activist in Iran was arrested during student day (December 7) by security forces. He has now been granted permission to contact his family for the first time since his arrest.

Majid has said that in the past week, in branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court under the leadership of judge Savati, he was charged with: insulting the supreme leader, insulting the president, gathering and spreading propaganda against the regime.

Majid`s trial was held behind closed doors. Despite the fact that he was not allowed to have a lawyer present, Majid Tavakoli protested his rights in court. There is no further information available on the trial.

Today, Majid was informed that his sentence has been issued and it will soon be given to him or his lawyer.

The quick trial has created concern regarding the sentence he may be given.

During his arrest and interrogation, Majid Tavakoli faced brutal treatment of physical and psychological torture. The pressure still continues.

The shameless behaviour of the security department that published pictures of him in female clothes has been met with disgrace and sadness by human rights activists worldwide.

Also, two years ago, Majid Tavakoli was arrested and sentenced to 15 months in prison. During that time he was accused of publishing an illegal student newspaper.

When he was arrested [the first time], he revealed 70 methods of torture which the regime forces used on him.

He was also arrested during a gathering in memory of Bazargan [Mehdi Bazargan was the first prime minister after the revolution]. The gathering was called off by the regime, but people attended it anyway. Majid Tavakoli spent 115 days in solitary confinement for this action.

He was released after paying a large sum for bail.

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