Eisa Saharkhiz to be Tried 'with a Jury' Presence

The defense lawyer of Eisa Saharkhiz, a jailed journalist, stated that the proceedings of his client's case on charges of insulting the head of the judiciary will be the 'first political crime trial in the history of the Islamic Republic' to be held 'with a jury present.' Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabai said on Wednesday, July 30, to the Jamaran website that in Eisa Saharkhiz's case, the investigator initially informed him of the charge of 'propaganda against the security of the system,' but 'the deputy prosecutor did not accept this charge and instead informed Mr. Saharkhiz of charges of propaganda, conspiracy, and insulting the leadership.' Mr. Tabatabai emphasized that this case has gone to the Revolutionary Court and that he, along with Saleh Nikbakht, will defend Eisa Saharkhiz. Mr. Saharkhiz's lawyer mentioned 'insulting the head of the judiciary' as another charge against his client, stressing that only this charge will be examined as a 'political crime with a jury present,' but the court has not accepted that charges like 'spreading falsehoods' or 'insulting the leadership' be examined as political crimes. The Saham website also reported that the Tehran Criminal Court will examine the complaint from the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps against Eisa Saharkhiz for 'spreading falsehoods about the Supreme Leader in cyberspace' on Saturday, August 2. Eisa Saharkhiz has been arrested and imprisoned several times in recent years. He is a vocal critic of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic. Mr. Saharkhiz has been in detention since November 1, 2015. His family and lawyers say he suffers from various illnesses and should be entitled to medical leave. According to Article 168 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 'The trial of political and press crimes is public and takes place with a jury present in the courts of justice.' However, this article was suspended until May 2016 when the Guardian Council approved the parliamentary bill regarding it. The government of Hassan Rouhani states that although it agrees with the generality of the approved law, this plan 'lacks sufficient comprehensiveness.'