Response of the Acting Head of Voice of America to Secret Sentences Issued for Persian Section Journalists: Evidence of Success in Playing a Significant Role

John Lipman, the acting head of Voice of America, stated in a statement regarding the secret sentences issued by the Islamic Republic for journalists of this media's Persian section that these are "typical examples of regime actions that do not value human rights or the rule of law." Lipman said that the issued sentences represent "covert efforts to prevent the free flow of information into Iran." He added that the secret sentences are also "evidence of the success of the Persian section of Voice of America in playing its significant role in keeping issues of women's rights, freedom of expression, and the importance of a free society in the spotlight and focus of Iranian society." He mentioned that Voice of America supports its journalists and their reports. Mr. Lipman stated, "We are exploring ways to enhance the security of the individuals mentioned and their families, and we will collaborate with foreign organizations and other relevant entities for this purpose." Following this, documents revealed during the hacking of the Islamic Republic's judiciary by the hacking group "Justice Ali" have published evidence of the fabrication of cases against several Voice of America journalists and other media, and the sending of their sentences to the execution department. According to a document released during the hacking of the judiciary, the cases of some journalists working in the Persian section of Voice of America were sent in May 2022 with the announced punishment of "prison sentences" for the charge of "propaganda against the regime" to the "Criminal Execution Branch of the Tehran Culture and Media Prosecutor's Office." The names of journalists including Aryan Reisbaf, Sara Dehghan, Mehdi Flahati, Hamideh Armideh, Niusha Bagherati, Roozbeh Bavalhari, Mahtab Vahidi Rad, Fahimeh Khodrheidari, Payam Yazdian, Arash Sigarchi, and Mehdi Aghazamani, who are journalists and collaborators of Voice of America, as well as Behrouz Sooraserafil, a late journalist and former collaborator, and Setareh Derakhshesh, the former head of the Persian section of Voice of America, are seen in this document. According to the published document, this case was closed in November 2022. Additionally, in another case for Babak Banziri, a journalist in the Persian section of Voice of America, a six-year prison sentence was issued for journalistic work. Another case shows that due to complaints from "Bank Sarmayeh," "the Attorney General's Office," and "the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Organization," several journalists including Niusha Bagherati, Mehdi Flahati, Aryan Reisbaf, Arash Sigarchi, Mahtab Vahidi Rad, Hamideh Armideh, Sara Dehghan, Roozbeh Bavalhari, Mehdi Aghazamani, Fahimeh Khodrheidari, Payam Yazdian from Voice of America, as well as Behrouz Sooraserafil, a late journalist and former collaborator, and Setareh Derakhshesh, the former head of the Persian section of Voice of America, have been accused of "propaganda against the Islamic Republic." In recent days, the hacking group Justice Ali announced that it was able to access the computer system and servers of the Islamic Republic's judiciary and disclosed three million documents. The issuance of secret prison sentences for Voice of America journalists; Justice Ali published several more documents. Justice Ali and a new document from the judiciary; the Attorney General's request for serious action against "prominent figures" in line with protests. Exclusive | The U.S. State Department condemns the killing of Nika Shakerami and the horrific behavior of the Islamic Republic towards protesters. The issuance of convictions for dozens of Voice of America journalists and other Persian-language media outside Iran by the Revolutionary Court. Disclosure of a document regarding the "assault" on Nika Shakerami before her death; users: The Islamic Republic is an enemy of humanity. The infiltration of the Justice Ali hacking group into the judiciary's servers: We obtained details of three million cases. The "International Committee for Seeking Justice" has called for unlimited access for the United Nations to prisons in Iran.