Civil activists demand release of environmental activists in letter to Ibrahim Raisi
As the arrest and trial of environmental activists continues in Iran, a group of activists in this field submitted a letter to the new head of the judiciary demanding the release of imprisoned activists at the margins of an environmental exhibition.
According to a report by Hamshahri newspaper, in this letter, which was also signed by a number of directors general and deputy directors of the Environmental Protection Organization, it states: “Their continued detention, despite admissions of innocence and denial of charges leveled by the esteemed Ministry of Intelligence (as the authority for determining espionage), the Supreme National Security Council, the four-member committee for presidential investigations, the Environmental Protection Organization, and several members of parliament, has created concerns for the country’s environmental community.”
The environmental activists case involves eight defendants, three of whom face espionage charges and four face corruption on earth charges. Additionally, one of the defendants has been charged with assembly and conspiracy against national security.
Niloofar Bayani, Homan Jokar, Sam Rajabi, Morad Tahbaz, Abdolreza Koohpayeh, Sepideh Kashani, Amir Hossein Khaleghi, and Taher Ghadiriyan are the defendants in the environmental case in Iran.
These environmental activists were arrested in February 2018, with their trial beginning approximately one year after their arrest. Three of these individuals are charged with “espionage” and four are charged with “corruption on earth.” One individual is charged with “actions against national security.”
Court hearings are being held under conditions where it was previously reported that environmental activists were not allowed to have their chosen lawyers and could only have lawyers approved by the judiciary in court.
In part of a statement by Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State, on behalf of the American people, offering condolences to victims of floods in Iran, it was stated that “they (the Iranian regime) even imprison environmental activists, who are trying to help Iran for such conditions, because of their efforts.”
Source: Voice of America
