With Mr Ahmadinejad facing a tough re-election battle this year, and falling oil prices slashing government revenues, Iranian hardliners fear reformist elements will be rejuvenated Photo: REUTERS
Arash and Kamiar Alaie, a pair of brothers who pioneered outreach programmes for Aids patients in the Iranian capital Tehran, were sentenced to six and three years respectively.
The convictions are part of a campaign against elements of Iranian civil society with links to Western countries that the government suspects of seeking regime change.
The Alaies were frequently involved in international conferences on Aids, where they spoke about the prevention techniques they were using with prostitutes and drug users.
