Amir Shah-Valayati, Eye-Injured Protester, Summoned to Court Again

The 26th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court has summoned Amir Shah-Valayati, an eye-injured protester, once again regarding charges including 'baghi' (rebellion). This injured protester shared a copy of the court summons on his Instagram page, stating: 'Whatever is right.' The charges against Amir Shah-Valayati include 'effective activity and efforts to advance the goals of groups that have risen up against the Islamic government and whose center remains (baghi)', 'disturbance of public order and tranquility', 'conspiracy and collusion with the intent to act against national security through bombings in public places', and 'conspiracy and collusion to commit crimes against security'. The charge of 'baghi' may carry the death penalty. The court date to address the charges against him has been set for July 1. Amir Shah-Valayati, who lost the vision in one eye after being shot by government forces during the nationwide 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, has been arrested and imprisoned several times. In the latest instance of this series of arrests, he was detained in Bahman 1402 after being summoned to the Evin Prosecutor's Office on charges of 'propaganda against the regime', 'membership in a rebellious group', and 'action against national security', and was released on bail on March 21. Matin Hassani, another eye-injured protester from Boukan, has also recently been summoned by the Revolutionary and Criminal Courts of Boukan. The charges against this eye-injured protester include 'inciting or provoking people to war and slaughter against each other with the intent to disrupt national security' and 'propaganda against the regime'. Matin Hassani was deliberately shot in the eye during the nationwide protests of Aban 98, losing vision in one eye. Targeting the eyes of protesters by the Islamic Republic's forces has been one of the methods of suppressing protests in recent years. According to reports from human rights organizations and international media, at least 600 protesters from the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement in 1401 were targeted in the eyes by shotgun pellets fired by the Islamic Republic's forces. A member of the prosecutor's office of the International People's Court for Aban 98 stated that between November 24 and 27, over 70 people underwent surgery in one of Iran's specialized ophthalmology hospitals due to shotgun pellet injuries to the eye. The risk of Amir Shah-Valayati losing his eye continues with his imprisonment. Hossein Hosseinpour, another eye-injured protester, has been sentenced to imprisonment. The continued detention of Amir Valayati has left his family unaware of his situation. The uncertainty surrounding Amir Shah-Valayati continues with his repeated summons and arrest coinciding with Neda Al-Nashif's visit to Iran.