Niloufar Hamedi's Husband: We Have Objected to the Unjust Court Ruling

The husband of Niloufar Hamedi, a journalist for the Shargh newspaper who was detained during the arrest of Mahsa Amini, wrote on his social media account that "we have objected to the unjust ruling issued." Mohammad Hossein Ajarlou expressed hope that the appeals court would "fairly and lawfully address this objection." Parto Borhanpour, Niloufar Hamedi's lawyer, also stated on Saturday, November 20, in an interview with the Shargh network that "I have appealed the ruling issued for Ms. Niloufar Hamedi." Borhanpour emphasized that none of our formal objections were addressed in the court ruling, and not even a sentence was written in response to the lawyers' defense. He noted that part of the ruling considered the statements of a guest on the BBC network as "support and evidence of Ms. Hamedi's collaboration with foreign media and a hostile foreign government, which raises the question of whether the statements of presenters and guests, and generally Persian-speaking networks outside the country, are valid and documented for the judiciary?" The sentences issued for Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi have been protested by many domestic and foreign civil institutions. In this regard, the International Federation of Journalists condemned the prison sentence for these two imprisoned journalists, calling it unjust on Tuesday, October 24. The court convicted these two journalists of charges including "collaboration with the U.S. government as a hostile country against Iran," "conspiracy and collusion to commit a crime against national security," and "propaganda activities" against the Islamic Republic. According to the ruling of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, Niloufar Hamedi, the detained journalist of Shargh, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for collaborating with the hostile U.S. government, 5 years for conspiracy and collusion to commit a crime against national security, and 1 year for propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic. If the ruling is confirmed by the appeals court, the "heavier punishment" of 7 years in prison will be enforced for Niloufar Hamedi. The U.S. government has repeatedly denied any connection or collaboration with Niloufar Hamedi and described such rulings as an attempt by the Islamic Republic to suppress freedom of expression. The Committee to Protect Journalists named the Islamic Republic of Iran as the "worst jail for journalists in the world" in 2022. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department recently rejected the accusations from the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Organization regarding the two journalists undergoing training in the U.S. outright. On the line: Ali Khamenei's claim about freedom of expression and heavy sentences for journalists. Widespread user protests against the sentences for Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi; report by Rozita Irandoost. Elahe Mohammadi's husband reacted to the judiciary's media documentary; "They have issued the final ruling instead of the appeals judge." The International Federation of Journalists condemned the prison sentence for Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi. Amnesty International: Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, imprisoned journalists, should be released immediately. The UN Special Rapporteur: The Islamic Republic must stop the widespread harassment of human rights defenders and journalists. Reactions to prison sentences for "truth-tellers": The Islamic Republic will not see the next "six to seven years." Announcing the sentences of one case; Niloufar Hamedi; 13 years in prison, 7 years of which are enforceable | Elahe Mohammadi; 12 years in prison, 6 years of which are enforceable.