Judiciary Spokesman Denies 'Acquittal' of Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi on Charges of Collaborating with an Adversarial Country

The spokesman for the judiciary responded to a question regarding the 'acquittal' of Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi from the charge of 'collaboration with an adversarial country,' stating: 'We deny this matter.' Masoud Setayesh emphasized that these two individuals have been charged under this accusation and the court is currently reviewing the case on this basis. In his weekly press conference, he addressed the lawyers' claims that 'there is no evidence or documentation of their collaboration with the U.S. government in the case,' stating: 'The one who must decide is the judge of the court.' On September 19, the lawyers of Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi asserted that the environment is conducive for their 'acquittal,' noting that more than two months have passed since their last defense, and the court has not issued a ruling, nor has the detention order been converted to bail. Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi were arrested during last year's nationwide protests for covering the news of Mahsa Amini's death while in custody of the 'Guidance Patrol' and were accused of 'collaboration with an adversarial government,' an accusation that has always been denied by both women and their lawyers. The U.S. Department of State also rejected the Iranian judiciary's claims regarding 'the connection of Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi with the U.S. government,' emphasizing that the trial of these two journalists, who played a role in reporting Mahsa Amini's death, aims to 'intimidate journalists in Iran.' Parto Borhanpour, lawyer for Niloufar Hamedi, and Shahab Mirlohi, lawyer for Elahe Mohammadi, stated in an interview published on September 19 in the Shargh newspaper that they have requested their release from judicial authorities, as their temporary detention should not exceed one year. Mirlohi also emphasized that the court acquitted Elnaz Mohammadi [sister of Elahe Mohammadi] of the charge of collaborating with an adversarial government, stating that when a 'specialized branch' of the Revolutionary Court does not consider a similar case as criminal, 'this charge no longer applies to our client.' Previously, Amir Raeisiyan, lawyer for Elnaz Mohammadi, reported the issuance of an acquittal for the charge of 'collaboration with an adversarial government' against his client and a three-year suspended sentence for her, as well as for Negin Bagheri, journalists from the 'Ham Mihan' and 'Haft Sobh' newspapers, for the charge of 'conspiracy and collusion to commit a crime against security.' Saeedeh Fathi Abadi, a journalist, previously told Voice of America that the Islamic Republic does not even adhere to its own laws regarding Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi. One year of temporary detention for Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi; lawyers say the environment is 'conducive for acquittal.' Anniversary of Mahsa; report by the International Federation of Journalists on a year of repression of journalists and media in Iran. Anniversary of Mahsa; Reporters Without Borders: During the 'widespread repression' of protests, 79 Iranian journalists were arrested. The fact-finding committee: The increase in the repression of women and governmental 'revenge' in Iran is a serious concern. The International Federation of Journalists condemned the conviction of two journalists in Iran.