Journalist Detained at Border for Using ‘Passed Away’ Instead of ‘Martyrdom’ in Arbaeen Report

“Poyan Khoshhal,” a journalist for Ebtekaar newspaper, was detained by security authorities while attempting to leave Iran.

The Tehran Prosecutor’s Office announced on Wednesday that it has filed charges against a journalist and requested judicial prosecution. Although the prosecutor’s office did not name the journalist directly, Jafari Dolatabad, the General and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Tehran, identified the individual as a journalist from one of the widely-circulated newspapers who has published multiple insulting articles “against Imam Aba Abdollah (peace be upon him).”

In a report titled “Disease Lurking for Careless Pilgrims” published in the Sunday edition of Ebtekaar newspaper, Poyan Khoshhal used the word “passed away” instead of “martyrdom” to refer to the anniversary of Arbaeen, the commemoration of the fortieth day after the death of Imam Hussein. For several years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been organizing trips for Iranians to Karbala to commemorate the fortieth day anniversary of Imam Hussein’s death, offering discounts and facilities.

The charges against the journalist have triggered considerable reactions on social media, with Twitter users protesting the charges against the journalist, while some hardline conservative users have called for the death penalty for the journalist in their tweets.

Previously, the Islamic Republic sentenced “Amirhossein Mirasmaili,” a journalist from Jahan Sanat newspaper, to 10 years in prison for a satirical tweet about Imam Reza.

In this regard, Reporters Without Borders issued a statement condemning Iran’s actions in censoring journalists and newspaper reporters active on social networks.

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression also criticized the suppression of media in Iran in his report, while referring to suppression and violation of freedom of expression by governments in various countries.

International human rights organizations and the United States have accused the Islamic Republic of violating freedom of expression and suppressing journalists, and have called for the release of journalists imprisoned solely for performing their duties and profession.

Source: Voice of America