Iranian of the Day

RAHANA: Shahin Zeinali is a political activist and a former member of Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat student organization, and a member of the Pan Iranist Party. He is also the spokesperson for the Coalition of Liberal Nationalist Students. Zeinali was banned from continuing his education in Economics.

Zeinali was first arrested during Ashura Day protests in Tehran on Decmeber 28, 2009. He was subsequently transferred to solitary cells inside Ward 240 of Evin Prison, where he spent 19 days until he was released on bail of $100,000.

Shahin Zeinali was arrested again on January 9, 2011, and was transferred to Rajaee Shah Prison.

His trial was held at Branch 26 of Tehran Revolutionary Court with Judge Pirabbasi presiding. He was sentenced to two years and 91 days in prison on charges of "propagating against the regime," and "assembly and collusion against the state." An Appeals Court upheld the sentence on January 26, 2011.

Zeinali was transferred from Rajaee Shahr Prison to Evin Prison's Ward 350 on January 20, 2011. He was one of the prisoners who signed a letter, testifying to the circumstances surrounding the prison death of Hoda Saber. In February 2012, Shahin Zeinali was transferred to Rajaee Shahr Prison in Karaj, where hardened criminals are detained.