Journalist Masoud Kazemi Re-arrested and Transferred to Evin

Journalist Masoud Kazemi, who went to the prosecutor’s office today to follow up on his case, was arrested again.

The court hearing for Masoud Kazemi’s case was held on Wednesday, the 1st of Khordad in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, but the journalist was arrested and transferred to Evin Prison in handcuffs.

The journalist had previously announced on his Twitter account the scheduling of his court hearing to review his case.

“The court hearing to review the first part of the case that has been prepared for me will be held on Wednesday, the first of Khordad (approximately one month from now). Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court under the presidency of Judge Moghadase.”

Ali Motaheddzadeh, Masoud Kazemi’s lawyer, wrote on his Twitter account about the details of the court session, stating that his client’s bail of “one hundred million” tomans has been increased to “one billion” tomans, and as a result, Masoud Kazemi has been arrested and transferred to Evin Prison.

According to the journalist’s lawyer, new charges that had not been mentioned in the prosecutor’s office were presented at the court hearing.

The lawyer also protested in another tweet about the conduct of the judge in this case, writing: “He repeatedly cursed Masoud Kazemi during the hearing—strange behavior that I could not have even imagined. Certainly, Mr. President Raisi is responsible before God and in the Hereafter for such conduct by judges in the world.”

The Iranian journalist, who has previously worked with newspapers such as Shargh and Qanoun, was arrested at his home in Tehran by security forces in November 2018.

Earlier, Masoud Kazemi’s lawyer told IRNA in February 2019 about the charges against the journalist, stating that the accusations were “spreading falsehoods, insulting officials and authorities, propaganda against the system, and insulting the position of the Supreme Leader.”

International human rights organizations and the United States government have accused the Islamic Republic of violating freedom of expression and suppressing journalists, calling for the release of journalists imprisoned solely for performing their duties and profession.

Reporters Without Borders, in publishing a report on the state of harassment and suppression of journalists in 2018, made reference to the detention of journalists in Iran.

Source: Voice of America