Mohammad Parsi, Critical Journalist, Tried for Publishing Article on Nika Shakeri

Mohammad Parsi, a critical journalist, announced his trial on Saturday, July 7, due to "publishing a report and commentary regarding the victimization of Nika Shakeri." This political activist stated that the charges against him were for "spreading falsehoods through cyberspace" and wrote that he was tried and prosecuted following a complaint filed by the Tehran prosecutor. Following the publication of a BBC World Service report on the circumstances surrounding the death of Nika Shakeri, a teenage protester during the nationwide protests of 2022, several journalists and media activists expressed their views on the matter. The judiciary of the Islamic Republic formed cases against these individuals, summoned them to judicial authorities, and took action against them. Marzieh Mahmoudi, an economic journalist, was among the media activists subjected to this judicial action and was tried on July 4. This critical journalist, who has been tried for the third time for publishing a short news piece about Nika Shakeri, wrote on X: "Any ruling in the new court means the reopening of the previous suspended case and the initiation of my exile process to Torbat Jam." According to a report by Amnesty International on April 24, the authorities of the Islamic Republic have acted to "severely suppress fundamental freedoms" using "illegal coercive powers and unfair trials" against activists, journalists, and critics in order to silence protests. In the latest report by Reporters Without Borders on media freedom, published on May 3, 2023, the Islamic Republic of Iran ranked 177th among 180 countries worldwide. The summoning of over "1,285 virtual activists" and the arrest of 58 field protesters occurred during the government’s "elections." Mohammad Parsi, a journalist, was summoned to court again; the continued uncertainty surrounding the detention of Eman Jalalinezad, a detained teacher; Marzieh Mahmoudi, a critical journalist, is being tried for the third time; and the whistleblower of the "Sismoni Gate" involving the Qalibaf family has been sentenced and sent to prison.