Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has voiced his support for eight environmentalists jailed Iran for more than a year on ambiguous charges of “spying”.

In a tweet on February 6, DiCaprio calls for support for the detainees who went on trial last month, some facing serious charges, which could lead to death penalty. One of the conservationists died in suspicious circumstances in prison days after his arrest last in January 2018.

DiCaprio also calls on his followers to sign a petition for the release of the Iranian environmentalists who have been arrested by the intelligence organization of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, IRGC.

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry, which is separate from the IRGC has said that there is no evidence against the detainees and members of parliament have also come to their defense but the hardliner IRGC and the Judiciary continue with the prosecution of the environmental activists.

As is the case in all “security” related trials, the accused do have the right to choose their defense attorney. The Judiciary appoints lawyers from a small pool of selected individuals