Marzieh Mahmoudi, Government-Critical Journalist, to Be Tried for the Third Time

Marzieh Mahmoudi's lawyer announced that this government-critical journalist will be tried "for the third time" and attributed it to "the republication of a news item." Reza Shafakhah mentioned on his 'X' page that the trial is scheduled for Wednesday, July 4. This lawyer pointed out that the trial is taking place amidst the competition among government candidates to replace Ebrahim Raisi, stating: "While some friends are showcasing themselves in election campaigns, Marzieh Mahmoudi, my journalist client, will be tried tomorrow, July 4, for the third time due to the republication of a news item." Following the publication of a BBC World Service report regarding the killing of Nika Shakeri, a teenage protester during the nationwide protests of 2022, Marzieh Mahmoudi commented on this matter on her 'X' page. The journalist wrote: "The report on Nika Shakeri's murder proves that these (Islamic Republic forces) were killing people in plain clothes. There are two facts in this report regarding this. One is where it says one of these individuals entered the crowd as a protester; the other is where it says the person covered Nika's mouth with a sock. In that chaos, it is difficult to tie and untie a shoelace." After comments from several journalists and media activists about the BBC World Service report, the Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, announced the formation of a case and summoned these individuals. According to a report by Amnesty International on April 24, Iranian officials have used "illegal coercive powers and unfair trials" against activists, journalists, and critics to "severely suppress fundamental freedoms" in an attempt to quell protests. In the latest report by Reporters Without Borders on media freedom, published on May 2, 2023, Iran ranked 177th out of 180 countries worldwide. Journalist Mohammad Parsi has been summoned to court again; the uncertainty continues for Eman Jalalinajad, a detained teacher; journalist Hadi Kasai Zadeh has been re-arrested after filing a complaint against two government entities; the whistleblower of the 'Sismoni Gate' involving the Ghalibaf family has been convicted and sent to prison; two Iranian journalists, Yashar Soltani and Saba Azarpeik, have been transferred to prison to serve "judicial sentences."