Court Session to Address New Charges Against Shahab Bayat, Protesting Student, Scheduled

The court session to address new charges against Shahab Bayat, a student at Azad University in Hamadan, will be held on July 20 of this year at the Hamadan Revolutionary Court. According to a report from the Persian section of Voice of America, based on the Revolutionary Court's notification, Shahab Bayat, who is currently free on bail, has been summoned to defend himself against the charge of 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic.' He was arrested during the nationwide protests in November and remained in detention for a month and a half. This protesting student was sentenced last December to three months of punitive imprisonment and two and a half years of suspended imprisonment for 'disturbing national security.' According to the report, if he is convicted in the new case as well, taking into account the suspended prison term, he will face a total of three years in prison. During the nationwide protests against the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini while in the custody of the morality police, which saw active participation from students and schoolchildren, over 500 Iranian citizens were killed, hundreds were injured, and more than 20,000 others were arrested. Criticism from a member of parliament regarding 'political and social blockage': the country's situation is 'undesirable.' Commemoration of the birthday of Kian Pirfalak in various cities; 'the world is in mourning.' Farewell of a protesting actress from the art scene; Hengameh Ghaziani states she will leave acting. Collective protests by students at Tehran University against the deprivation of the right to education for activists of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement.