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Iran handed down a five-year jail term to Ahmad Zeidabadi, a prominent journalist and former student leader, an opposition Web site reported Monday, as part of a series of jail sentences the government has issued against activists and former officials in the past month.

Mr. Zeidabadi was sentenced to five years in jail and exile in the small town of Gonabad, the Web site Mowjcamp.com reported. The Web site also said the court increased his bail from nearly $250,000 to $350,000.

His sentence appeared to be part of the government’s effort to end protests that began after the disputed June election and have continued despite a crackdown.

Another student leader, Abdollah Momeni, was sentenced to eight years in prison earlier this month. His wife, Fatemeh Adinehvand, said he was sentenced to six years for “participating in post-election gatherings” and another two years for “activities against national security.”

The opposition has called for another protest on Dec. 7, known as Student Day. Authorities used violence against demonstrators on Nov. 4, the 30th anniversary of the takeover of the American Embassy in Tehran, when protesters tried to take over the government-sponsored rally.

Meanwhile, an account by a former prisoner gave a glimpse of the mindset of the Iranian authorities, and how they perceive the opposition as doing the bidding of the West. The prisoner,... >>>