Continued Crackdown on Journalists; Elnaz Mohammadi and Negin Bagheri Sentenced to 3 Years of Suspended Imprisonment

Amir Reysyan, the lawyer for Elnaz Mohammadi, reported the issuance of an acquittal for the charge of 'collaborating with a hostile government' against his client, and the sentencing of both her and Negin Bagheri, journalists from the newspapers 'Ham Mihan' and 'Haft Sobh', to three years of suspended imprisonment on the charge of 'conspiracy and collusion to commit a crime against security'. Mr. Reysyan stated in an interview with Ham Mihan that Ms. Mohammadi's case 'was referred to Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran with two charges: conspiracy and collusion to commit a crime and collaborating with hostile foreign governments', and the court, after reviewing the charges, acquitted her of the charge of collaborating with hostile foreign governments due to 'lack of evidence and proof of the crime.' The lawyer added: 'However, the court sentenced my client and Ms. Negin Bagheri, who were represented by Ms. Borhanpour and Mr. Kamfirouzi, to three years of imprisonment, one-fortieth of which is enforceable, while the remainder is suspended for five years.' This lawyer further noted that the court 'ordered the defendants to participate in a professional ethics training course every season under the coordination and supervision of the Ministry of Intelligence agents during the five-year suspension of the prison sentence.' He continued that during these five years, 'they are prohibited from leaving the country and from engaging in professional activities related to the committed crime and the means effective in it, as well as from associating with individuals who work or have connections with foreign media.' Elnaz Mohammadi is a journalist and the social editor of Ham Mihan newspaper and is the twin sister of Elaheh Mohammadi. Elaheh Mohammadi, along with Niloufar Hamedi, a journalist from Shargh newspaper, was arrested and imprisoned for covering the news of the death of Zhina (Mahsa) Amini while in the custody of the Guidance Patrol. The International Federation of Journalists, on July 20, named seven journalists imprisoned by the Islamic Republic and called for the immediate release of 'Niloufar Hamedi, Elaheh Mohammadi, Farakhandeh Ashouri, Nazila Maroufian, Maral Darafarin, Rybwar Seyed Mohammadi, and Kamyar Fakour', reiterating that journalism is not a crime and that the Islamic Republic must release all imprisoned journalists and media activists. Additionally, the U.S. ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council, coinciding with the three-hundredth day of Niloufar Hamedi's detention, called for the release of this Shargh newspaper journalist, Elaheh Mohammadi, and all journalists imprisoned for covering the death of Zhina (Mahsa) Amini. Users ahead of the trial of the two journalists: 'We are the loud voice of Elaheh - Niloufar'. The continued detention and uncertainty of Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, two journalists, media activists remain under pressure; the arrest of Elnaz Mohammadi; imprisonment and travel bans for Hossein Yazdi. Human rights organizations express concern about the health of political prisoners; the Islamic Republic prevents medical treatment. A letter from Nargess Mohammadi from Evin: Violence against female political prisoners has increased. The dismissal of two journalists from Iran newspaper following 'criticism of the resigned sports minister.'