Kivanvaz Samimi’s Three-Year Prison Sentence Upheld in Absentia Without His Lawyer Present
Kivanvaz Samimi’s three-year prison sentence on charges of “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and conspiracy against national security” has been upheld by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals. The editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Iran Farda” was arrested for participating in an International Workers’ Day ceremony in front of Parliament.
The confirmation of Kivanvaz Samimi’s three-year prison sentence was announced by Samimi himself through a Telegram post. In this post, he stated that his sentence has been upheld by Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals under the judgment of Judge “Seyyed Ahmad Zargar.”
Samimi began his Telegram post with the phrase: “Finally, this game has come to an end.” The veteran journalist and editor-in-chief of “Iran Farda” described the appeals court judge as someone who has employed harsh and brutal methods against “justice seekers” over the past 40 years.
Regarding the issuance of this ruling by Judge Ahmad Zargar, Kivanvaz Samimi wrote: “A government that claimed to be the servant of the oppressed treats a veteran journalist who participated in a gathering of workers and laborers this way.”
Samimi’s reference pertains to his participation in the International Workers’ Day ceremony in 1398 (2019). The ceremony was held in front of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament). He was arrested by law enforcement at that time.
“Baseless Charges”
Kivanvaz Samimi’s presence and participation in the International Workers’ Day ceremony in 1398 was considered by the judiciary as “propaganda against the regime” and “assembly and conspiracy against national security,” resulting in his imprisonment.
On June 18 of that year, he was temporarily released from prison after paying bail. In Farvardin of the current year, the court sentenced him to five years in prison. Now Branch 36 of the Court of Appeals has upheld a three-year prison sentence for him.
In his Telegram post, Kivanvaz Samimi announced that the confirmation of his sentence took place without his presence or that of his lawyer, and was based solely on statements from “security interrogators.”
He stated that by taking this action, the judge sought to demonstrate his absolute obedience to the hardliners ruling Iran, adding that the pursuit of such policies is precisely what has brought Iran to its current state.
Kivanvaz Samimi called the judge of this court (Ahmad Zargar) one of the “servants of power” who takes orders from the god of “wealth and force,” and in obedience to this god, shows no restraint in employing any deception.
In another section of his Telegram post, this veteran journalist said the following regarding the consequences of such actions: “I also told the hardline interrogator during my detention many times to go tell your superiors that your method will ultimately lead to the overthrow and destruction of the country and yourselves, and you will inscribe eternal shame upon yourselves in history.”
Source: DW
