News

The daughter of the former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani has been sentenced to six months in prison for "making propaganda against the ruling system".

Faezeh Hashemi Rafsanjani's trial took place behind closed doors last month.

According to the conservative website Mashregh News, she has been banned from taking part in political, cultural and media activities for five years.

She has 20 days to appeal against the sentence.

Correspondents say that her punishment may be turned into a suspended jail term on appeal, as often happens with opponents of the Iranian authorities.

Faezah Rafsanjani has given interviews in recent months in which she defended her father's position - and this appears to be her offence. Akbar Rafsanjani has refused to condemn Iran's two most prominent pro-reform leaders.