Journalist and Blogger in Saveh Sentenced to 444 Lashes

The local newspaper "Atraf Yas" has reported the conviction of a journalist and blogger to 444 lashes by a court in the city of Saveh. In its issue on Thursday, June 9, the newspaper identified this journalist as Mohammad Reza Fathi. According to "Atraf Yas," Mr. Fathi was arrested in the summer of 2014 on charges of "spreading falsehoods" and "disturbing public opinion," and his sentence has recently been issued. Based on this ruling, the journalist has been sentenced to endure 444 lashes (six sets of 74). Unconfirmed reports suggest that the governor and mayor of Saveh are the two main complainants against this blogger. In his nine-page objection to the court ruling, Mohammad Reza Fathi denied the charges and stated that his writings were in defense of community rights and public assets. The case of this blogger is currently under review in the appeals court. Mohammad Reza Fathi is mentioned as one of the active journalists and bloggers from Saveh, who, according to some reports, was also arrested in 2005. Other reports indicate that Fathi was arrested in 2005 for raising certain criticisms on his blog named "Saveh Jam" following complaints from the then-governor and mayor of Saveh. His media responsibilities also included publishing the internal newsletter of the public relations department of Yazd University and serving as the editor of the social service section of the now-defunct monthly "Neday Saveh." The lash sentence for this journalist and blogger has been issued at a time when judicial courts in recent weeks have also issued lash sentences for several civil and labor activists in other cities in Iran. The issuance and enforcement of sentences for 17 workers from the "Aq Dareh" gold mine in West Azerbaijan province is among these rulings, which have faced significant protests in Iran. Earlier this week, the ILNA news agency reported the sentencing of nine iron ore mine workers in Bafq to suspended prison and lash sentences. This ruling pertains to protests from two years ago by a group of iron ore mine workers in Bafq, which has recently been issued by Branch 105 of the Criminal Court 2 of Yazd. In April of last year, five workers from the Chadormalu mine in Yazd province were sentenced to one year in prison and lashes. These workers, along with 25 other workers from this mine, were tried following labor protests based on complaints from the employer for "disrupting order and preventing the realization of others' rights." In this context, the Human Rights Commission condemned the recent lashings in Iran, stating that the government uses lashes as a means of intimidation and to condition the public to torture. The lash sentences for protesters of the "Fitileh" program and other mine workers have also been reported. The spokesperson for Hassan Rouhani's government expressed regret over the lashings of workers.