Continued Uncertainty Regarding the Status of Hossein Shanbezadeh, Imprisoned Editor

Hossein Shanbezadeh's brother reported ongoing uncertainty about the status of this imprisoned editor more than a week after his arrest. Abbas Shanbezadeh wrote on his 'X' page on Wednesday, June 13: 'Today marks the eighth day since the arrest and the third day since the last contact with our mother, and we are still waiting and hoping for news about his case.' Hossein Shanbezadeh was arrested after he left a single 'dot' in response to a post by Ali Khamenei on 'X' that lacked a period. Users preferred this dot significantly more than the leader's writing. According to Hossein Shanbezadeh's family, this former political prisoner is deprived of the right to access a lawyer and is currently in Tehran, 'under investigation while in custody.' Following his arrest in Ardabil, the city's prosecutor accused him of 'communicating with high-ranking Mossad officers.' Jalal Afaqei, the Ardabil prosecutor, stated on Friday, June 8, without naming Hossein Shanbezadeh, that the arrested individual was accused of 'spying for high-ranking Mossad officers,' 'insulting sacred values,' and 'multiple acts of blasphemy.' The Ardabil prosecutor claimed without presenting evidence that this former political prisoner 'is accused based on existing documents of having communicated with high-ranking Mossad officers through social media.' This judicial official also alleged that Hossein Shanbezadeh intended to leave the country by passing through Ardabil, Bostanabad, and ultimately going to Urmia. This claim has been rejected by Hossein Shanbezadeh's family, who noted that he had posted about his trip to Ardabil on 'X' before his arrest. Hossein Shanbezadeh was considered a user of the social media platform 'X' and had shared not only social and literary issues but also snippets of his memories from his time in prison and being whipped. Pressure on civil and political activists in Iran has increased in recent months. Hossein Shanbezadeh is imprisoned in Tehran and lacks access to a lawyer. The family of Hossein Shanbezadeh is concerned about the attribution of 'heavy accusations'; Hossein Ronaghi stated: 'This dot will remain a headline forever.' The Iranian Writers' Association stated that writers, journalists, and artists should be 'the echo of the voices of the oppressed people.' The accusations are merely for a 'dot'; the Iranian judiciary claims that Hossein Shanbezadeh had connections with Mossad.