Continued Detention of Sajjad Shahabi for the Crime of Brotherhood; Mousa Barzin: Journalists Should Not Remain Silent

Despite securing a one billion tomans bail for Sajjad Shahabi, who has been imprisoned due to his sister, Shima Shahabi, being a journalist abroad, judicial authorities are preventing his release. Mousa Barzin, a lawyer, tells Voice of America that his detention and its continuation are illegal. Sajjad Shahabi was arrested on May 2 by agents of the Ministry of Intelligence and is currently held in Evin Prison. He went on a hunger strike for 12 days during interrogation, and according to Mousa Barzin, his detention continues without sufficient evidence of a crime. Barzin, a lawyer residing in Turkey and knowledgeable about Sajjad Shahabi's case, states that security forces detained him because of his sister's journalistic activities abroad and have charged him with 'collusion and conspiracy against national security' without evidence. He advises activists and journalists abroad not to remain silent regarding the detention of this journalist's brother, as it may lead to authorities targeting the families of other activists, while 'families in Iran have no involvement in the activities of individuals abroad.' According to Barzin, the investigator of Branch 2 issued a bail order of one billion tomans for Sajjad Shahabi, but when the family attempted to post bail, they were rejected on false pretenses to further harass the family. He states that 'the entire process of the case' indicates that Sajjad Shahabi was arrested because his sister Shima is a journalist abroad, and this is intended to pressure him to remain silent. This lawyer emphasizes that 'all these behaviors are completely contrary to the laws that the Islamic Republic itself has enacted.' Mousa Barzin discusses the background of pressure on the families of activists abroad and the reactions of international bodies, stating, 'There are very strong international organizations that defend journalists' rights,' and in addition, 'the United Nations and other bodies' such as 'the Special Rapporteur and the fact-finding committee' exist, and likely in the coming days, if Mr. Shahabi is not released, these bodies will respond to his continued detention. He adds, 'Activists and journalists working abroad should not overlook this issue lightly, as it may also affect all these activists and lead authorities to target their families, while those families have no involvement in the actions of people like us who are abroad.' Shima Shahabi's brother, a journalist and editor of the Persian section of IranWire, is currently held in Evin Prison, and based on information available to Mousa Barzin, judicial authorities have not accepted his chosen lawyers and have charged him with 'collusion and conspiracy to commit crimes against security.' This human rights advocate states, 'The gentlemen who claim the case has gone to the Revolutionary Court have still refrained from responding to the family and lawyers; in other words, all evidence shows that without any proof of wrongdoing by Mr. Shahabi, he has been arrested, and many of his legal rights have been violated, and they have not been accountable.' According to Barzin, Sajjad Shahabi, who was previously a presenter for state media, 'has never engaged in any activities against the regime,' and 'all actions' taken against him by security and judicial officials are 'due to his sister Shima Shahabi's activities.'