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TEHRAN, Iran – Iran's appeals court has upheld an 11-year jail sentence against a prominent Kurdish human rights activist, his lawyer said Saturday.

Nasrin Sotudeh said the court ruled on Sept. 28 against her client, Mohammad Sadeq Kaboudvand, who has been convicted of acting against national security and propagating against the ruling Islamic establishment. Sotudeh was informed of the ruling on Oct. 18, she said.

Kaboudvand, a 47-year-old journalist who founded the non-governmental Human Rights Organization of Kurdistan in Iran's Kurdish region three years ago, has been held in Tehran's Evin prison since June 2007.

Sotudeh said Kaboudvand has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for setting up a human rights organization and one year for publicity against the government.

"This ruling is contrary to the provisions of the constitution," Sotudeh told The Associated Press. "Setting up a human rights group is not considered a crime under Iran's constitution, let alone deserving such a harsh punishment."

Sotudeh said the verdict was now considered final. She said she is planning to appeal to Iran's judiciary chief, Ayatollah >>>