Mahmoud Sadeghi, an Iranian MP, announced on Wednesday, August 15, that following the completion of 'investigation and interrogation' of environmental activists, they have been handed over to the judiciary, but 'it is unclear why their detention continues.' Mr. Sadeghi tweeted on Wednesday evening: 'According to a relevant official in the IRGC intelligence, it has been over two weeks since the investigation and interrogation of the environmental activists ended, and they have been handed over to the judiciary. However, it is unclear why their detention continues.' Mir Hossein Khaleghi, Hooman Jokar, Taher Ghadirian, Sam Rajabi, Niloufar Bayani, Sepideh Kashani, Morad Tahbaz, and Abdolreza Kouhpayeh have been imprisoned in Ward 2-A of the IRGC since February 2018. The IRGC intelligence has accused these individuals of espionage, but Eisa Kalantari, the head of the Department of Environment, states that according to the Ministry of Intelligence, 'there is no evidence of espionage against these individuals.' On Tuesday, August 13, Mr. Kalantari reiterated during a visit to the IRNA news agency that the Ministry of Intelligence has stated that there is no evidence of espionage against these individuals. However, he reported that the judiciary has 'ordered' the Department of Environment not to follow up on the situation of the detained environmental activists. Kavous Seyed-Emami, a university professor and environmental activist, was also detained alongside these eight individuals, and on February 10 of last year, his family was informed that he had 'committed suicide' in prison, a claim his family has denied.
MP: Continued Detention of Environmental Activists Despite End of Interrogation
Mahmoud Sadeghi, an Iranian MP, revealed that environmental activists have been handed to the judiciary after interrogation but remain detained without clear reasons. The IRGC has accused them of espionage, which the Ministry of Intelligence denies. This situation raises concerns about the treatment of activists in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Mahmoud Sadeghi reported that several environmental activists have been handed over to the judiciary after interrogation, yet their detention continues without clear justification. The IRGC has accused them of espionage, a claim denied by the Ministry of Intelligence.
- The activists have been detained since February 2018.
- There is conflicting information regarding the evidence of espionage against the activists.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a history of detaining activists, particularly those involved in environmental issues, often under accusations of espionage or undermining national security.
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