Despite All Evidence, Abadan Girl Acquitted While Security Officer Exonerated
Branch 7 of the Abadan Prosecution Office has issued a summons for trial for Bahar Cheshmbarah, a citizen of Abadan. Simultaneously, Mehdi Kazemi, a security officer at Abadan Oil Refinery, has been acquitted of the charges against him. In November of this year, the broadcast of images showing the beating of Ms. Cheshmbarah in cyberspace under the title “Abadan Girl” garnered widespread reactions. In this video, the security officer had touched the limbs of this citizen and placed his foot on her body. Following this incident, state radio and television broadcast televised confessions by Ms. Cheshmbarah against herself.
According to Hrana news agency, the news organ of the Iranian human rights activists collective, Branch 7 of the Abadan Prosecution Office has issued a summons for trial for Bahar Cheshmbarah, a citizen of Abadan, despite the existence of documentation.
Branch 7 of the Abadan Prosecution Office has issued a summons for trial against Ms. Cheshmbarah on charges of “forced entry, inflicting injury, and intentional arson.” Simultaneously, Dariush Mo’ammar, a Khuzestan journalist, reported the acquittal of Mehdi Kazemi, a security officer at Abadan Oil Refinery, of the charges against him.
Babak Paknia, one of the defense lawyers for this citizen, while objecting to the issuance of the trial summons prior to presenting evidence, notification to lawyers, and obtaining final defense by the case prosecutor, posted on his Twitter page: “Does a judge who issues a ruling based on a video believe in presenting evidence?! Is it not necessary for the video relied upon to be shown in the presence of the lawyers and the accused in order to present evidence? Did he learn anything in law school about presenting evidence?”
This lawyer, who had requested a review of surveillance cameras in the presence of the case lawyers, again reported pressure on his client: “Bahar Cheshmbarah said that the previous judge told her to dismiss Paknia! He even said it would be enough if you just sign this page and we will notify you of his dismissal! The new judge also issued the trial summons without paying attention to the proposal sent through his user system, without holding a session and notification!”
Babak Paknia had previously reported pressure on his client to dismiss the lawyer by the first judge in the case.
On November 1st of this year, the broadcast of images showing the beating of Ms. Cheshmbarah in cyberspace under the title “Abadan Girl” garnered widespread reactions. In this video, after Ms. Cheshmbarah was injured in a scuffle, the security officer at Abadan Oil Refinery touched the limbs of this citizen and placed his foot on her body.
Following this incident, state radio and television broadcast televised confessions by this citizen against herself. Some time later, the social deputy of the police command of Abadan county reported the detention of the security officer.
Source: Hrana
