Mehta Sadri sentenced for reacting to Ebrahim Raisi's death
Journalist Mehta Sadri was sentenced to pay a fine for reacting to the death of Ebrahim Raisi.
Mehta Sadri, the director of the Guilan Sadr analytical news website, was arrested in June 1402 by the intelligence forces of the Gilan Revolutionary Guard and transferred to Lakan Prison in the city, where he was released on bail after 21 days.
The charges against Mehta Sadri stem from his reaction to the assassination of Ebrahim Raisi, including propaganda against the regime and spreading lies with the intention of disturbing public opinion. Despite being acquitted of the charge of spreading lies, the court sentenced him to a fine of six million tomans on the charge of “propaganda against the regime.”
It should be noted that the payment of the aforementioned fine is an alternative to 6 months in prison, and this sentence was issued while Mehta Sadri was deprived of access to a lawyer during his detention, and his court hearing was held without his lawyer present.
In his interview with Ansaf News, Mehta Sadri described his arrest as the result of media work and creating an atmosphere by some extremist organizations and groups in Gilan province. His conviction for his reaction to a news event indicates the coercive treatment of critics and the limited space for freedom of expression in Iran, which highlights the need for the world to pay attention to the human rights situation in Iran.
It is worth noting that this ruling has once again increased the concerns of the international community and human rights regarding the restrictions on freedom of expression and the suppression of journalists in Iran.
