Parliamentary Representative: Detention of Environmental Activists Continues Despite End of Interrogation
Mahmoud Sadeghi, a representative in the Iranian parliament, announced on Wednesday, August 15, that with the conclusion of “investigation and interrogation” of environmental activists, they have been handed over to the prosecutor’s office, but “it is unclear why their detention has continued”.
Mr. Sadeghi tweeted Wednesday evening: “According to a statement by a relevant official in the Sepah Intelligence Organization, the investigation and interrogation of environmental activists has been completed for more than two weeks and they have been handed over to the prosecutor’s office. However, it is unclear why their detention has continued.”
Mirhossein Khaleghi, Houman Jowkar, Taher Qadiryan, Sam Rajabi, Niloufar Bayani, Sepideh Kashani, Morad Tahbaz, and Abdolreza Koohpayeh have been imprisoned in Ward 2A of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps since February 2018.
The Sepah Intelligence Organization has accused these individuals of espionage, but Issa Kalantari, head of the Department of Environment, states that according to a statement from the Ministry of Intelligence, “there is no evidence regarding espionage by these individuals”.
Mr. Kalantari reiterated on Monday, August 13, during a visit to the IRNA news agency that the Ministry of Intelligence has stated there is no evidence regarding espionage by these individuals.
He also announced, however, that the judiciary has “ordered” the Department of Environment not to follow up on the situation of detained environmental activists.
Kavous Seyed-Emami, a university professor and environmental activist, was also arrested along with these eight individuals. On February 12 of last year, his family was informed that he had committed “suicide” in prison, but his family has rejected these claims.
Source: Radio Farda
