Saeedeh Shafiei, Journalist with Illness, Returned to Prison

The husband of Saeedeh Shafiei, a journalist who was on medical leave, reported her return to prison as a 'punishment for journalism.' Hassan Homayoun expressed concern about the worsening of his wife's health in prison and held judicial authorities responsible for her well-being. He wrote, 'Saeedeh Shafiei has returned to prison despite her illness, as a punishment for journalism. The hardships of prison exacerbate her illness. I am deeply worried about my beloved wife. The responsibility for her health lies with the judicial authorities. She is being taken back to prison after her sentence was suspended last winter.' In recent days, Saeedeh Shafiei, an economic journalist, reported on the 'new decision by forensic medicine and judicial authorities' to return her to Evin prison on September 6 for the 'third time' despite her illness not improving. This journalist, who was transferred to Evin prison to serve her sentence since November 28 of last year, was released from prison on March 2, 2023, to pursue treatment based on a forensic opinion to halt the execution of her sentence. The 26th branch of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Iman Afshari, sentenced Saeedeh Shafiei to more than four years in prison on charges of 'propaganda against the regime' and 'collusion and conspiracy with the intent to act against national security,' of which three years, seven months, and 16 days are enforceable. This journalist was also sentenced to supplementary punishments, including a two-year ban on membership in political and social groups and a two-year ban on leaving the country. According to the 'Defense of Free Information Flow in Iran' organization, with the execution of Saeedeh Shafiei's prison sentence, the number of imprisoned journalists and media activists in Iranian prisons has increased to ten. This organization recently reported that with the official start of the fourteenth government of the Islamic Republic, the sentencing of journalists has increased fivefold. Saeedeh Shafiei, an economic journalist, is imprisoned for the 'third time.' The organization 'Defense of Free Information Flow in Iran' states that the sentencing of journalists has increased 'fivefold' in one month. An attack on a journalist in Sanandaj; Ejlal Ghavami: The assailant said he would kill all opposition. Exclusive | The risk of extraditing a refugee journalist to Iran; Reza Esmaeili has been detained in Turkey for three months.