International Federation of Journalists Expresses Concern Over Reyhaneh Tabatabai's Case and Unemployment of 200 Media Activists

The Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists called for the withdrawal of all charges against Reyhaneh Tabatabai. Anthony Bellanger stated, "We are deeply concerned about the accusations against this journalist." Reyhaneh Tabatabai, a journalist and member of the National Unity Party, appeared in court again on Monday, March 7. The court was presided over by Judge Salavati. Before her third trial, Tabatabai tweeted: "In 2012, nearly 20 journalists were arrested within a few days on false charges. Each of us spent over a month in solitary confinement, and ultimately, after years, the trials for these detentions were held in the past year. Now, on Monday, I have a trial for the third time on charges of propaganda against the regime, and of course for the second time with Salavati." Anthony Bellanger expressed strong concern over the accusations against this journalist, stating, "In our view, Reyhaneh Tabatabai has acted according to journalistic standards, and therefore we see no reason for this journalist to be imprisoned again for exercising her freedom of expression." The Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists, based in Belgium, once again expressed regret over the trial and imprisonment of journalists. Reyhaneh Tabatabai was arrested in 2010 on charges of propaganda against the regime. She was sentenced to one year in prison, but the appellate court changed six months of this sentence to a suspended sentence. She was arrested a second time in February 2013 along with several other journalists by the Ministry of Intelligence. In June 2014, the IRGC set up a new case against Reyhaneh Tabatabai, resulting in her being imprisoned for five months in the women's section of Evin prison. Her recent case relates to accusations made by the Ministry of Intelligence during Ahmadinejad's administration. The International Federation of Journalists also expressed concern over the unemployment of more than 200 media activists, referencing the arrest of Douman Sahand, the investor of two newspapers, Vaghaye Ettefaghieh and Aseman Abi, and the imminent cessation of their paper publication, as well as the 'closure' of the newspaper Jahan San'at. About two months ago, the Central Bank of Iran declared the investment company Douman Toukan to be unlicensed. This investment company stated on its website that "the cultural and artistic monthly Exir Novin, the monthly Ayandeh Roshan, and the newspaper Aseman Abi... are subsidiaries of Douman investment." Although this company did not mention its investment in the newspaper Vaghaye Ettefaghieh, which is close to the Nedā Party led by Sadegh Kharrazi, this newspaper confirmed on its Twitter that due to the arrest of its investor, it "will not be published until further notice."