Suppression of Freedom of Expression in Iran Continues; Arrest and Conviction of Two Journalists in Kermanshah
Amir Babaei, a journalist from Kermanshah, was sentenced to two months in prison by the appellate court. Additionally, in recent days, another journalist named Gholamreza Nuri-Ala was arrested by security forces.
The Telegram channel of the Tehran Journalists Association announced on Wednesday, April 9, that the sentence of ten million tomans in fines imposed on Amir Babaei, a member of the association, which had been previously issued by the primary court on charges of “publishing falsehoods,” was changed to a two-month prison sentence in the appellate court.
It is noteworthy that this journalist, who has a background of work at the newspapers “Bisotun,” “Avaye Kermanshah,” and served as editor-in-chief of the weekly “Gharb,” was sentenced to prison following a complaint filed by the Deputy Governor of Kermanshah.
On the other hand, according to the Telegram channel’s report, in recent days, Gholamreza Nuri-Ala, another journalist from Kermanshah, was arrested by security forces for publishing a post on social media titled “Thirteen Lies,” alleging that the Governor of Kermanshah had contracted the coronavirus.
This news is being published while there is no information available regarding the whereabouts of the journalist, and it has not been announced whether he is currently in detention or has been temporarily released on bail.
The U.S. State Department, in a section of its annual report on the status of human rights worldwide released on March 12, 2020, addressed the role of the Iranian regime in imposing restrictions on media, the arrest of journalists and reporters, and the extension of harassment of journalists’ families to those working outside the country.
Source: Voice of America
