Court Trial of Three Iranian Writers’ Association Members Held on Two Charges with Unlawful Specifications
Baktash Abtin, Reza Khandan Mohammadi and Keyvan Bazen, three members of the Iranian Writers’ Association, were tried on April 27-28 in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court on two charges of «propaganda against the system» and «gathering and conspiracy against national security».
These three association members have been detained multiple times and faced political charges. Baktash Abtin was tried on Saturday, April 27, and Reza Khandan Mohammadi and Keyvan Bazen, with their lawyers present, were tried on April 28 by Judge Moghisseh in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court. According to Baktash Abtin in a statement to the Iran Human Rights Campaign, this was their only and final court session, and now they must await the court’s verdict.
During both days of trial, a number of Iranian Writers’ Association members gathered to protest the charges and court proceedings against these three writers.
Baktash Abtin, who was tried on April 27, spoke to the Iran Human Rights Campaign about the specifications of his charges, saying: «These two charges were previously brought against me and I received a one-year prison sentence for them, which was later reduced to a fine in the appeal court. But now I am charged again with the same charges and specifications, and a new case and trial have been opened for me. One of the charge specifications against me is my participation in writing the book «Fifty Years of the Iranian Writers’ Association». It would have been an honor if I had a role in it, but unfortunately everyone knows that I had no role in writing this book and at that time I was living in Kish and I still live in Kish and was not there to contribute. The attribution to me is completely false.»
The four-volume book «Fifty Years of the Iranian Writers’ Association» was published by the editorial board of the Fifty-Year Anniversary Commission of the Iranian Writers’ Association on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of this non-governmental organization. The book was published in limited quantities, but according to Baktash Abtin, the printed copies were stolen after leaving the printing house «and did not even reach the association members.»
Baktash Abtin also spoke about the specifications of the charge of gathering and conspiracy against national security for himself and his two colleagues, saying: «The specifications include statements by the Writers’ Association, publishing articles in the association’s internal publication, and for example, holding ceremonies for the late Pouyandie and Mokhtari, who are members of the Writers’ Association. But nowhere in the world do you need a permit to gather at someone’s grave, yet now these have become specifications of our charges.»
Mr. Abtin, in a video posted on his Instagram page on Sunday, April 28, announced the court proceedings for himself, Reza Khandan Mohammadi and Keyvan Bazen, saying: «I myself believe that these pressures are being exerted on me and my friends in the association by security forces through restricting us, but I want to promise you that these pressures cannot in any way affect the firm determination of myself and my colleagues.»He said they are determined to preserve freedom of expression and thought without any restrictions or exceptions.
These three members of the board of directors of the Iranian Writers’ Association, who had been accused of propaganda against the system and gathering and conspiracy against national security by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, went to this branch on January 22, 2019 upon receiving a summons, but Judge Moghisseh issued a heavy bail of one billion tomans for them, which due to inability to pay, they were sent to Evin Prison. These three writers were each released from prison a few days later upon posting bail. Now, after several months, their court hearing has been held and they must await the court’s verdict.
The Iranian Writers’ Association is a non-governmental organization composed of writers, translators, editors and part of the International PEN and formally announced its existence in 1968 with the goal of organizing writers professionally and fighting censorship. The Iranian Writers’ Association and its members have faced various degrees of repression from the beginning of their formation and especially during the 1980s and 1990s, from censorship and legal persecution to assassination. Mohammad Jafar Pouyandie and Mohammad Mokhtari were among the members of the Iranian Writers’ Association who were killed during the chain killings.
Source: Iran Human Rights Campaign
