Six-Year Prison Sentence Issued for Journalist; Trial Held Without Defense Lawyer in Revolutionary Court
The lawyer of «Hamed Ayyenavand» says that the trial of this imprisoned journalist was held on December 15 without the presence of a lawyer in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court.
«Hamed Ayyenavand», a journalist and political activist, was arrested on July 7 of this year while leaving the National Library by the Intelligence forces of the Revolutionary Guards and after 45 days of solitary confinement, was transferred to the general ward of Evin Prison.
«Hossein Beyat», the lawyer of «Hamed Ayyenavand», said on Tuesday, December 24 in an interview with Voice of America that Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, under the ruling of Judge Moghaddasi, sentenced this imprisoned journalist to six years in prison on charges of «propaganda against the system, society, and conspiracy to commit crimes against national security».
Hossein Beyat told Voice of America that the charges issued are inconsistent with the existing evidence and documents that have been placed against his client in the case, and he hopes that by presenting documents to the court of appeals, Mr. Ayyenavand will be acquitted of the charges and return to the embrace of his family.
He said that in a democratic and popular system, criticism of the government, even if harsh and offensive, should not be answered with criminal prosecution. Criticism of the government and informing the public is one of the duties of journalists.
On November 15 of this year, a resolution approved by the United Nations General Assembly warned of «worsening human rights conditions in Iran». According to this resolution, over the past year, suppression of journalists, social media users, and protesters in Iran has increased.
Reporters Without Borders has also called for an immediate investigation into the situation of imprisoned journalists and citizen reporters and political prisoners in Iran. Reza Moeinni, head of this organization’s Iran section, says: In oppressive governments like Iran, citizen reporters play a decisive role in the production and dissemination of news.
Source: Voice of America
