A POST-GRADUATE student jailed by the Iranian authorities has had his sentence cut by two years and is to be released later this month for a period of leave.

Ehsan Abdoh-Tabrizi, a PhD student at Durham University, was imprisoned in Tehran for “insulting the leader”, taking part in protests and “having links with foreign elements”.

The university has been informed that Iranian authorities are likely to release Mr Abdoh- Tabrizi from prison later this month, to mark the national Iranian celebration of Nowruz.

Professor Anthony Forster said: “We are encouraged by confirmation from Ehsan’s family that the appeal court in Iran has cleared him of the charge of liaising with foreign enemies, and reduced his sentence from seven to five years, comprising two years for offending the leader and three years for participating in anti-government demonstrations.

“But Ehsan has already served more than a year of that sentence and remains in Tehran’s Evin prison.”

Mr Abdoh-Tabrizi’s father, Hossein, who works for the banned reformist newspaper Sarmayeh, has insisted that his son is innocent, and is a history researcher rather than a political activist.

Hossein Abdoh-Tabrizi is the former secretary-general of the Tehran Stock Exchange and is reported to have been critical of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s economic policies.

Mr Abdoh-Tabrizi, a student at the university’s School of Government and International Affairs, was arrested and imprisoned in January last year.

He has spent some of his time in solitary confinement in one of Tehran’s most notorious prisons.

Prof Forster said: “His family believes that Ehsan’s friends and fellow students in Durham and beyond can play an important role in keeping the case in the public consciousness, drawing on any information or updates relayed via the university.”

Last September, Durham University wrote to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei, to seek information about the student’s detention.

Prof Forster said: “Having sought advice from government, made official representations to the Iranian authorities, and published information to the media, the university has agreed with Ehsan’s family to do what we can to support any efforts to ensure Ehsan’s case is not forgotten.”