Iran sues 3 journalists for exercising rights to free speech
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Iranian authorities sue three journalists on vague “propaganda” and “national security” charges, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday.
The HRW called on the Iranian authorities to drop the charges, which stem from the journalists’ reporting and writing on social media, and end the ongoing harassment, prosecution, and punishment of those exercising their rights to free speech.
“The international community should keep cases of journalists and human rights defenders at the center of its engagement with Iran,” Tara Sepehri Far, senior Iran researcher at the HRW said.
Sepehri Far also urged States to stop Iran and drop these and other ridiculous charges that authorities have brought against journalists.”
The prosecution of the journalists – Saeideh Shafiei, Mehrnoush Zarei Henzaki, and Nasim Sultan Beigi – is scheduled to be held on the same day before Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court. Under articles 500 and 610 of the Islamic Penal Code of Iran, each of these charges carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.
“Iran’s judiciary has once again begun summoning and harassing journalists and human rights defenders, punishing anyone who refuses to remain silent,” Sepehri Far said.