Interrogation of Saleh Nikbakht at Tehran Airport; Security Forces Seize Sakharov Prize and Lawyer's Passport

Saleh Nikbakht, a lawyer and legal representative of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini's family, was interrogated by security forces upon his arrival at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran on Friday evening, December 22. According to the Hengaw Human Rights Organization, security forces confiscated Mr. Nikbakht's passport, mobile phone, and the Sakharov Prize plaque he received from the European Parliament. On December 12, Mr. Nikbakht represented the Amini family at the European Parliament due to the travel ban imposed on Mahsa Amini's family, where he, along with Afsaneh Najafi, sister of Hadis Najafi, and Marsedeh Shahinkar, victims of the protests, received the Sakharov Prize awarded to Mahsa Amini and the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement. A relative of Mahsa Amini's family told Voice of America on Saturday, December 9, that the prevention of their travel to Strasbourg, France, was done 'at the request of the Ministry of Intelligence.' Additionally, Amjad Amini, Mojgan Eftekhari, Mahsa Amini's parents, and Ashkan Amini, Mahsa's brother, were prevented from traveling to France for the Sakharov Prize ceremony on December 8 by Islamic Republic security agents at Imam Khomeini Airport, who confiscated their passports. Saleh Nikbakht was sentenced to one year in prison and a two-year ban on social media activities by Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Amouzad, for 'propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic of Iran.' The 72-year-old lawyer from Saqqez was charged with 'propaganda against the regime' by Branch 2 of the Evin Prosecutor's Office on Saturday, March 11, 2023, and was temporarily released on bail. In recent years, Saleh Nikbakht has represented many political prisoners and defendants sentenced to death.