Court opposes release of Qasem Sholeh Saadi and Arash Kaykhosravi, attorneys
The protest of Qasem Sholeh Saadi and Arash Kaykhosravi, two lawyers who were arrested in front of the parliament on August 17, was rejected by Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court and their arrest warrant was confirmed.
Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, Qasem Sholeh Saadi's defense lawyer, said that the investigator who issued the temporary detention order is awaiting the final report from the Ministry of Intelligence as the case officer and will make a decision based on this report.
These individuals have been charged with conspiracy and conspiracy against national security.
Previously, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch had issued statements condemning the treatment of lawyers active in human rights matters and calling for their release.
Nasrin Sotoudeh and her husband Reza Khandan are also being held in temporary detention in Evin Prison for the same reason.
Qasem Sholeh Saadi and Arash Kaykhosravi were arrested on the morning of Saturday, August 17, in Baharestan Square in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly. Mr. Sholeh Saadi had said that he was holding a sit-in in protest of the arbitrary supervision of Mohammad Mossadegh.
The two were transferred to Evin Prison the same day after their arrest, and on Sunday, after being charged at Branch 5 of the Evin Prosecutor's Office, they were transferred to Greater Tehran Prison.
In a video posted on Twitter on Tuesday, August 20, Mr. Sholeh Saadi was seen being transported to Evin Prosecutor's Office with Arash Keykhosravi in prison uniforms and handcuffs, while according to the Political Crimes Law in Iran, those accused of political crimes are exempt from wearing prison uniforms and must be separated from ordinary criminals.
Mohammad Hossein Aghasi, who represents Qasem Sholeh Saadi, wrote on Twitter that a temporary arrest warrant was issued for his client on charges of gathering and colluding with the intent to commit a crime against national security.
Mr. Sholeh Saadi's defense lawyer has clarified that he does not consider this charge to be consistent with his client's actions and the legal definition of this crime, and he will appeal the arrest warrant within the legal deadline.
Source: Voice of America
