Elham Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi Must Return to Prison

A Tehran-based newspaper reported the imminent return of Elham Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi to prison in the coming days. Emadeddin Baghi, in today's issue of the Etemad newspaper dated August 27, stated that the remaining execution of the sentence has been referred to the first branch of the criminal execution court of the public and revolutionary prosecutor's office of district 33, and Elham Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi, who were released in January 2024 after their detention was converted, must return to prison. The note mentions that the acquittal of Niloufar Hamedi and Elham Mohammadi from the charge of 'collaboration with a hostile foreign government' and the acquittal of Toumaj Salehi raised the question: 'Why should individuals endure the suffering of imprisonment for a long time, causing psychological and even physical harm to themselves and their families, only to find out later that this accusation was incorrect?' The note also references the cases of Mostafa Tajzadeh, Saeed Madani, and Hamid Ghareh-Hosseinlou and his wife, Ms. Farzaneh Hosseinlou, as other instances that, if the Constitution and ordinary laws were strictly adhered to, would not deserve punishment and should be released as soon as possible without the intervention of extrajudicial wills. Emadeddin Baghi emphasized that regarding the cases of Elham Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi, since the time when two main security institutions of the country were questioned due to unprecedented widespread protests following Mahsa's death, and to justify their weaknesses, they ignored the main and real roots of this major crisis and its unfortunate events in a deflective statement, reducing it to weak reasons, the judicial fate of the case was predictable. The author of this note in the Etemad newspaper reacted to the acquittal ruling of these two journalists, which was announced in recent days, stating that they were acquitted in the appeal stage from the charge of 'collaboration with a hostile foreign government' and that the remaining charges were also considered 'subject to the amnesty directive' according to the law. Saeed Parsaee, the husband of Elham Mohammadi, wrote on Sunday, August 21, on X that according to the statements of the lawyers of Niloufar Hamedi and Elham Mohammadi, the appellate court issued a ruling on the case of these two journalists and acquitted both of the charge of 'collaboration with a hostile foreign government,' while confirming a five-year prison sentence for the charge of 'gathering and collusion' and a one-year prison sentence for the charge of 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic.' Parto Borhanpour and Hojjat Kermani, two lawyers for Niloufar Hamedi, confirmed this news on Sunday, August 21, stating to 'Sharghe Network' that with the acquittal of their client from the charge of 'collaboration with a hostile foreign government,' the remaining charges against her are 'subject to the amnesty directive of Bahman 1401.' According to Niloufar Hamedi's lawyers, this journalist 'does not fall under any of the exceptions of the amnesty directive' related to Bahman 1401, and her case should be 'closed with the issuance of a non-prosecution order' under the application of the mentioned directive. Niloufar Hamedi and Elham Mohammadi, after spending about 400 days in detention in recent months, were temporarily released from Evin Prison by posting a bail of 10 billion tomans. They strongly rejected the charge of 'collaboration with the U.S.,' which the judicial authorities of the Islamic Republic referred to as a 'hostile government.' The United States government has repeatedly denied any connection or collaboration with these journalists and described the issuance of such rulings as an attempt by the Islamic Republic to suppress freedom of expression in Iran. Tanaz Kolahchian: The Etemad newspaper and Niloufar Hamedi and Elham Mohammadi have only acted in accordance with their duty. The new pretext of the government for dealing with Niloufar Hamedi and Elham Mohammadi after 400 days of detention. Reactions to the temporary release of Niloufar Hamedi and Elham Mohammadi and the opening of a new case against them. Niloufar Hamedi and Elham Mohammadi were acquitted in the appellate court from the charge of 'collaboration with a hostile government.' The U.S. honors Iranian journalists on World Press Freedom Day: Journalism is not a crime. Hamid Ismailioon: Iranian journalists are fighting against medieval laws. The end of 400 days of imprisonment for the crime of 'informing'; reactions to the temporary release of Elham Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi. A new case has been formed against Elham Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi due to 'unveiling' after their release. Niloufar Hamedi and Elham Mohammadi, imprisoned journalists, were released on bail.