Outcry at five-year sentence for French-Iranian anthropologist

Researchers up in arms at Fariba Adelkhah’s conviction over alleged offences against national security

France’s academics have expressed their outrage at the conviction of anthropologist Fariba Adelkhah, who has been sentenced to prison by a Tehran court.

Adelkhah was sentenced to a five-year prison term on 16 May for conspiring against national security, and one year for diffusing propaganda, to be served concurrently. The French-Iranian anthropology researcher, who works for the CNRS, France’s national centre for scientific research, and the prestigious Sciences Po grande école, has been detained awaiting trial since her initial arrest in June 2019.