Iran sentences journalist to death over online work

Iran sentenced a once-exiled journalist to death over his online work that helped inspire nationwide economic protests that began at end of 2017, authorities said on Tuesday.

Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili announced Zam's death sentence on Tuesday, saying he h been convicted of “corruption on Earth,” a charge often used in cases involving espionage or attempts to overthrow Iran's government.

It was not immediately clear when sentence was handed down.

Ruhollah Zam's website and a channel he created on popular messaging app Telegram h spre timings of protests and embarrassing information about officials that directly challenged Iran's Shiite ocracy.

Those demonstrations represented biggest challenge to Iran since 2009 Green Movement protests and set stage for similar mass unrest last November.

details of his arrest still remain unclear.

Though he was based in Paris, Zam somehow returned to Iran and found himself detained by intelligence officials.

A series of a televised confessions have aired in recent months over his work.

Zam is able to appeal his sentence, issued by a Revolutionary Court.