Melbourne academic Dr Kylie Moore-Gilbert, jailed in Iran’s notorious Evin prison, has lost an appeal against her 10-year sentence.
In a devastating blow, the University of Melbourne Middle East expert will spend her second Christmas behind bars in solitary confinement.
The Sunday Herald Sun confirmed that Iranian authorities rejected her freedom bid.
She remains in the Tehran jail where Iran’s feared Revolutionary Guard keeps its political prisoners. A source said Dr Moore-Gilbert was getting “desperate”.
She managed to get a message out from the jail, telling the source: “Make sure this does not go unnoticed.”
Dr Moore-Gilbert was arrested in October 2018, charged with spying and sentenced to 10 years in jail.
It is understood she was invited to speak at a conference at the University of Qom, south of Tehran, before she was detained.
Her family has remained in close contact with the Australian government.
In September, the family thanked the government and the University of Melbourne for their support “at this distressing and sensitive time”.
Read the article in The Australian.