Motahari: I am following the situation of several imprisoned journalists, workers, and teachers

The Vice President of the Islamic Consultative Assembly emphasized that "critics and protesters should not be dealt with harshly," announcing that he is following the situation of imprisoned journalists Sasan Aghaei and Yaghma Fashkhami, as well as imprisoned teacher and bus workers' syndicate member Reza Shahabi, through the Ministry of Intelligence or the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to ISNA news agency, Ali Motahari, on Tuesday, October 4, spoke about the arrest of several journalists, including Sasan Aghaei and Yaghma Fashkhami, stating: "We follow such cases that are brought to our attention through the Ministry of Intelligence, or the IRGC Intelligence, and the judiciary." He added, "These individuals are not to be released by our order. We follow up and sometimes receive responses that may contradict what has been reported in the media." The Vice President emphasized that "the Islamic Republic is not endangered by a few criticisms and protests" and "harsh treatment should not be applied to critics and protesters." He also expressed ignorance about the formation of a committee in the Hope faction of the parliament to investigate the situation of some media activists' detentions. Sasan Aghaei, the deputy editor of the Etemad newspaper, was arrested on August 12 and has since been held in solitary confinement in Ward 241 of Evin Prison, which belongs to the judiciary's intelligence protection. Yaghma Fashkhami, another imprisoned journalist, was arrested on the evening of August 21 this year. Meanwhile, the International Federation of Journalists, along with its affiliated Iranian Journalists' Association, called for the immediate release of these two imprisoned journalists on Monday, September 18. Anthony Bellanger, the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists, described the arrest of these journalists as "a blatant violation of journalists' rights, a violation of human rights, and also the fundamental rights of journalists and reporters." Previously, Human Rights Watch had also called on Iranian officials to "immediately release these two journalists or conduct a fair trial for them." According to this organization, the judiciary and security agencies have kept these two journalists detained "without a clear charge." However, the temporary detention order for these journalists has been extended again. Reza Moieni, the head of the Iran desk at Reporters Without Borders, considers these arrests to indicate the beginning of a new wave of repression against journalists in Iran. The continued detention of journalists in Iran comes at a time when some imprisoned journalists in previous years have lost their health during their imprisonment. Alireza Rajai, a journalist and national-religious activist, lost his right eye and part of the muscle and bones on the right side of his face after surgery. Meanwhile, Ehsan Mazandarani and Afrin Chitsaz, who were arrested in November 2015, remain imprisoned. Mr. Motahari also announced that he is aware of Reza Shahabi's situation and has followed up on the status of some imprisoned teachers. The Syndicate of Workers of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company reported on Tuesday that Reza Shahabi, a board member of this organization, was transferred to the hospital due to his deteriorating health after the forty-ninth day of his hunger strike, and despite the "explicit order of the doctor" for hospitalization, he was returned to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj after one hour. This labor activist, after presenting himself to Rajai Shahr Prison under pressure from the prosecutor's office on August 9, realized that the prosecutor's office had not accepted his medical leave issued by forensic medicine and that he would have to stay in prison for about another thousand days. In response to this situation, he went on a hunger strike, which continues to this day. Many requests for Mr. Shahabi's release have been made. In the latest instance, dozens gathered on Tuesday, October 3, in front of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, demanding his immediate release. Mahmoud Beheshti Langaroudi, the spokesperson for the imprisoned Teachers' Syndicate, was also arrested again last month, and his relatives reported that with the issuance of a new five-year prison sentence, his total prison sentences have reached 14 years. Last week, teachers' syndicates in several provinces of Iran requested Hassan Rouhani to form a committee to investigate the "violation of rights" of teachers' syndicate activists and to defend them while "removing real and legal obstacles" regarding syndicate activities. Despite the approval of the "political crime" law in Iran, officials of the Islamic Republic still use the term "security charges" regarding the accusations against political activists, journalists, and imprisoned syndicate activists, and some judiciary officials have stated that they do not recognize political crime.