Journalist sentenced to 6 years in prison; trial without a defense lawyer in Revolutionary Court
Hamed Ainevand's lawyer says that the trial of this imprisoned journalist was held on December 15th without the presence of his lawyer in Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court.
Hamed Ainevand, a journalist and political activist, was arrested by IRGC intelligence forces on July 28 of this year while leaving the National Library and was transferred to the general ward of Evin Prison after 45 days of solitary confinement.
"Hossein Bayat," Hamed Ainevand's lawyer, told Voice of America on Tuesday, January 25, that Branch 28 of the Revolutionary Court, based on the judgment of Judge Moghiseh, sentenced the imprisoned journalist to 6 years in prison on charges of "propaganda against the system, society, and collusion to commit a crime against national security."
Hossein Bayat told VOA that the charges issued are not consistent with the existing evidence and documents filed against his client, and he hopes that by presenting documents to the appeals court, Mr. Ainevand will be acquitted of the charges and returned to his family.
He said that in a democratic structure, criticism of the government, even if it is harsh and annoying, should not be responded to with criminal action. Criticizing the government and providing information is one of the duties of journalists.
On November 15 of this year, a resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly warned of the “worsening human rights situation in Iran.” According to this resolution, repression of journalists, social media users, and protesters in Iran has increased over the past year.
Reporters Without Borders has also called for an immediate investigation into the situation of imprisoned journalists and citizen journalists and prisoners of conscience in Iran. Reza Moeini, head of the organization's Iran section, says: "In repressive governments like Iran, citizen journalists play a decisive role in producing and publishing news."
Source:: Voice of America
