Iranian café chain manager sentenced to prison and asset seizure for protest-related posts

Sadegh Saeedinia, the manager of the Saeedinia café chain, was sentenced to prison after a court found him guilty of “propaganda against national security.” The conviction stems from Instagram posts in which Saeedinia discussed the January protests and urged his employees to join a strike, actions authorities deemed to undermine state stability.

Legal analysts note that the ruling represents one of the most severe penalties imposed on a private entrepreneur since the nationwide unrest began, reflecting the government’s broader crackdown on dissent and labor activism linked to the protests. The case underscores the heightened scrutiny of social‑media activity and labor organization in the post‑protest environment.