Exclusive; Civil Activist Souri Babaei Chaghini, Imprisoned, Summoned to Court on New Charges

Souri Babaei Chaghini, an imprisoned civil activist, has been summoned for trial again on new charges including 'membership in an anti-regime channel', 'insulting the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic', and 'disturbing security'. An informed source reported to Voice of America on Thursday, December 7, that a notification from the third branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Qazvin was issued 'in prison' to Souri Babaei Chaghini, stating that he will be tried again on the morning of December 13 on new charges. According to documents obtained by Voice of America, the charges attributed to this imprisoned civil activist, who is currently held in Chubin-Dar prison in Qazvin, include 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic, membership in an anti-regime channel, inciting people to sedition and murder, insulting the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, and disturbing the security of the country'. This notification was issued by 'Fathollah Ali Mohammadi', the judge of the third branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Qazvin. The attribution of these charges to Souri Babaei Chaghini and his summons for trial comes at a time when a source close to this imprisoned protester told Voice of America that judicial authorities in Qazvin have informed him that if he does not 'express remorse' and 'request pardon', they will not agree to consolidate the sentences of his cases. According to a previous report, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office of Qazvin had arrested Souri Babaei Chaghini 'for the crime of seeking justice for grieving mothers and protesting against compulsory hijab', and although the maximum penalty considered for him is one year in prison, they oppose the consolidation of his sentence.