Iranian Lawyer Arrested for Criticizing Government's Handling of 2022 Protests

An Iranian lawyer, Mohsen Borhani, known for his public criticism of the government's handling of the 2022 protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, has been arrested, according to state media reports on Sunday.

The Triggering Incident

The protests erupted after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained by the police for not properly wearing her mandatory hijab. The demonstrations quickly escalated into calls to overthrow Iran's four-decade Islamic theocracy.

The judiciary's Mizan news agency announced that Mohsen Borhani had been previously sentenced, although no further details about his case or jail time were provided.

Public Figure and Critic

Borhani, a university professor, gained popularity on social media for his critical views of the Iranian government during the 2022 protests that shook the Islamic Republic. The unrest led to a security crackdown that resulted in over 500 deaths and more than 22,000 detentions. U.N. investigators held Iran responsible for the physical violence that led to Amini's death.