A leading leftist member of the Iranian parliament has been sentenced by the judiciary to six months in jail for insulting a conservative parliament member, the ISNA news agency reported Tuesday.
Mohsen Armin told the student agency he had also been stripped of civil rights for one year, even though MPs technically benefit from parliamentary immunity.
"It is interesting to know that he did not show any proof that I have insulted him," Armin said of the plaintiff, Ali Emami-Rad.
Armin further said the court had handed down the sentence because he had not bothered to show up, based on the assumption that he had immunity.
"The judiciary is not acting fairly," Armin said. "Another MP complained against Emami-Rad for insulting him, and Emami-Rad was found guilty without appearing in the court but he was fined only 700,000 rials (83 dollars)."
Armin, a member of the leftist Islamic Revolution Mujahedeen Organization, said he would now appeal. (Albawaba.com)
