Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Iran Sentences Blogger to Prison VOA News 28 September 2010 A rights group and a news website say Iranian authorities have sentenced a Canadian-Iranian man credited with starting the Internet blogging movement in Tehran to more than 19 years in prison. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran and Mashreq news say Hossein Derakhshan received more than 19 years in prison after being convicted on charges of spreading propaganda and cooperating with "hostile" countries. Earlier this month, Derakhshan's family said he faced the death penalty on a host of charges, including spying for Israel.