Nader Fotouhechchi, Iranian Translator and Journalist, Sentenced to Prison and Fine

Nader Fotouhechchi, an Iranian translator and journalist, has been sentenced by Tehran Provincial Criminal Court to one year in prison and a fine of one million rials.

Nader Fotouhechchi announced on Wednesday, August 14, through a post on his Twitter page that Branch 1040 of Tehran’s Criminal Court has sentenced him to pay a fine of one million rials on charges of “insult” and one year in prison on charges of “defamation.” Due to his lack of criminal record, this sentence has been suspended for two years.

Fotouhechchi’s court hearing was held on August 5, and the verdict was delivered to him today. According to the published verdict, the Iranian journalist and writer was acquitted on charges of “spreading false information in cyberspace” in this case.

Based on available information, this Iranian journalist was arrested on August 28 of last year following a complaint by Mohammad Emami, who is accused of embezzling funds from the Teachers’ Pension Fund, when he reported to the Third Branch of the Prosecutor’s Office of District 31 in Tehran. He was released from Tehran Central Prison the following day after posting bail.

Mohammad Emami, the investor in the serial “Shahrzad,” filed a complaint against Nader Fotouhechchi on charges of libel, defamation, and disturbing public opinion.

Nader Fotouhechchi had previously referred to Mohammad Emami’s accusations in the Teachers’ Pension Fund embezzlement case and questioned the funding mechanism of the “Shahrzad” serial. By launching the “No to Shahrzad Serial” campaign, he raised the issue of linking the serial’s capital to the 1.3 trillion toman embezzlement from the Teachers’ Pension Fund.

Source: Voice of America