Iranian Journalist Saba Azarpik Arrested
Iranian journalist Saba Azarpik has been arrested by Iranian security authorities.
Unofficial reports indicate that Azarpik was arrested for publishing letters to the Islamic Consultative Assembly on Ministry of Intelligence letterhead prior to the confidence vote on Mohammad Shariaetmadari, Iran’s current Minister of Labor and Social Affairs.
The letters concerned Shariaetmadari’s connection to the file on illegal automobile import registration and importation during his tenure as Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade.
This comes as Iran’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs confirmed the arrest of this journalist in a tweet but denied Azarpik’s claim that he was connected to illegal automobile imports.
The letters concerned Shariaetmadari’s connection to the file on illegal automobile import registration and importation during his tenure as Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade.
This comes as Iran’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs confirmed the arrest of this journalist in a tweet but denied Azarpik’s claim that he was connected to illegal automobile imports.
پس از شنيدن خبر بازداشت یکی ازخبرنگاران،پيگيري كردم.متاسفانه صحت داشت.عليرغم ادعاهاي كذبى كه ارائه كرده بودو در يك اقدام عجيب،اطلاعات قبلی و عادى كشف شده توسط ما را در سربرگ محرمانه واجا بصورت ناقص انتشار داده بود،به مسئولان گفتم به هيچوجه راضي به بازداشت او و هيچ خبرنگاری نيستم.
With this journalist’s Twitter account rendered inaccessible following her arrest, many users, including journalists, are calling for her release.
Yashar Sultani, editor of Memari News website, who had conducted a major exposé on the “astronomical properties” list two years ago, tweeted about Azarpik’s arrest, stating that “infiltration networks should be sought in sensitive government agencies, not among journalists.”
One user reshared images of documents that Azarpik had published regarding Shariaetmadari’s connection to illegal automobile imports:
Source: Voice of America
