Iranian dissident sentenced to death

TEHRAN: Prominent Iranian dissident Ruhollah Zam was sentenced to death yesterday by a revolutionary court in Tehran.

Zam is accused of using his website, Amad News, to spread propaganda against Iran’s leadership and to provoke protests against the regime, some of which turned violent. He has pleaded guilty and asked for forgiveness.

Zam can appeal against the sentence to the country’s highest court, spokesperson Gholam-Hussein Ismaili said. Political commentators expect the sentence to be overturned on appeal.