ISNA, Saturday November 10, 2007: Nasrin Sotoodeh, the lawyer representing Delaram Ali, who was sentenced to a prison term of 2 years and six month in relation to her participation in the protest in Hafte Tir Square in June 2006, has in an interview with the Iranian Student News Agency, explained that after a meeting with Judiciary spokesman Mr. Jamshidi, an order to stop the implementation of Delaram Ali’s sentence was issued by the Head of the Judiciary, Ayatollah Shahroudi, allowing for a two-week period of investigation.

In this interview Stoodeh explained further that "prior to this order my client had requested a stay on the implementation of her sentence from the Head of the Judiciary."

Nasrin Sotoodeh went further to explain that "one of the main legal problems with the sentence issued to Delaram Ali, is that the verdict of the appeals court had not even been submitted or seen by my client [or lawyers]. Instead officials from the office in charge of implementing sentences, who contacted my client about her obligation to introduce herself for the purpose of serving her sentence, notified my client about the ruling of the appeals court."

Delaram Ali was sentenced to 2 years and 10 months and 10 lashings by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Courts. The sentence was appealed and referred to Branch 36 of the appeals court, which reduced the sentence for Delaram Ali to 2 years and 6 months.

Read the original news item in Farsi.