Heila Sedighi, Iranian Poet, Arrested

Heila Sedighi, a poet, was arrested on Thursday, January 7, at Imam Airport in Tehran upon her return to Iran. A relative of Heila Sedighi confirmed her arrest in an interview with Radio Farda. The website Kalemeh, close to Mir Hossein Mousavi, also reported on the arrest of Heila Sedighi at the airport, stating: "It has been said that a case has been filed against her at the Media Court, and she has been sentenced in absentia." Ms. Sedighi had been summoned and interrogated several times after the protests following the 2009 presidential election results. She was arrested in 2011. Reports indicate that the Revolutionary Court sentenced Heila Sedighi to four months of imprisonment and five years of suspended imprisonment. In 2012, Heila Sedighi, along with 40 writers and poets from 19 countries, won the Hellman-Hammett Award for freedom of expression. In a statement by Human Rights Watch regarding the awarding of the Hellman-Hammett Award to Heila Sedighi, it was noted that she wrote numerous poems in response to the severe repression of protests against the 2009 presidential election. Heila Sedighi was arrested in 2011 due to these poems and was interrogated. In this context, three Iranians are among the winners of this round of the Hellman-Hammett Award. Artists' statement: Today, it is appropriate to call Evin and Qarchak the homes of artists. Freedom of expression in Iran; today's image and tomorrow's outlook. Changing the playing field of 'proxy wars'; war against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph; the responsibility of the opposition and the possibility of radicalization of Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iran crisis. Trump: I hope there is no need for further action regarding Iran; they killed people indiscriminately. The shadow of war over Tehran; 'Trump is looking for decisive military options against Iran.' Trump says if the Islamic Republic attempts to assassinate him, 'it will be wiped off the face of the earth.' A senior U.S. official: The Trump administration is closely monitoring the case of Reza Valizadeh. Trump emphasizes 'stopping executions in Iran': we do not know what will happen in the future.