Trial of Eight Environmental Activists Held in Tehran
The trial of eight environmental activists was held in closed session at the Islamic Revolution Court under the presidency of Judge Solevati in Tehran. Parts of the indictment were read in court. Further details about the court session have not been released.
The IRNA news agency reported on Wednesday, February 10 (January 30) that Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolution Court in Tehran, under the presidency of Judge Solevati, held a closed trial for eight environmental activists. According to the report, court-appointed lawyers for the environmental activists were present at the session, and a representative of the Tehran prosecutor’s office read parts of the indictment.
MohammadHossein Aghassi, defense lawyer for two of the environmental activists, told IRNA that “the reason for summoning the defendants to the court branch is still unclear.”.
Aghassi, who is the defense lawyer for Sam Rajabi, one of the environmental activists, said that contrary to what the Judicial Branch Media Center announced, he was prevented from entering as a court-appointed lawyer for his client in this case.
Aghassi also said that the other defendants used lawyers trusted by the head of the Judicial Branch.
IRNA explained regarding the “environmental defendants”: “The case referred to as environmental activists has eight defendants for whom an indictment has been issued against four people on charges of corruption on earth, three people on charges of espionage, and one person on charges of assembly and conspiracy against national security. The charge against four defendants in this case was initially espionage, which was later changed to corruption on earth.”
Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, spokesman for the Judicial Branch, had previously announced in November of this year that the title of the indictment in the environmental activists’ case had been changed. According to Ejei, the initial title of the charge against these individuals was “espionage” and according to Article 286 of the Islamic Penal Code, some espionage cases can also be prosecuted as “corruption on earth.”.
Ejei also stated that the tools and equipment of environmental activists had been examined and based on the report of experts from the General Staff of the Armed Forces and the confessions of the defendants, these individuals were found to be subject to Article 286 of the Islamic Penal Code.
Source: DW
