Samaneh Yasin's Request: My Trial Should Be Public and Include Lawyers and Journalists

Samaneh Yasin (Seydi), the imprisoned protest singer whose death sentence has been overturned, has requested in a letter that his trial be held publicly, emphasizing that he was subjected to "forced confessions under physical, psychological, and pharmaceutical torture." In a letter written on July 29 from Rajai Shahr prison and published on the "Hengaw" website, the 27-year-old protest singer from Kermanshah referred to "10 months of being abducted from his home," "forced confessions under torture," as well as "indecision and exile to various prisons" and the lack of permission for his "private and chosen lawyer" to enter the case. He stated that he is sending this text due to the "constant threat of new exile to an unknown location" hanging over him. This political prisoner was transferred to Evin prison a few days after writing this letter on August 11 during the closure of Rajai Shahr prison. Samaneh Yasin had previously emphasized that during the past months, he was "repeatedly forced to take medication and injections for confessions and pressure." This protest rapper explained that in a written request to the relevant authorities, he asked that before the trial, which is scheduled for "September 9," his chosen lawyer "Amir Raeisian and his group" be allowed to enter the case and meet with him before the trial day. He also requested in this open letter that "domestic and international lawyers and journalists" be allowed to attend the trial and asked them to send their written requests for attendance to the relevant authorities. Samaneh Yasin has asked the father of Tomaj Salehi, another imprisoned protest singer, to attend his trial session. This political prisoner emphasized on August 6 that "I am not suicidal, and whatever happens to me, the responsibility lies with Judge Salavati," stating that prison officials had taken him to Aminabad psychiatric hospital, where he was unconscious for more than 24 hours after receiving medication and subsequently suffered from symptoms including blurred vision, imbalance, and dizziness. Samaneh Yasin (Seydi) was arrested on October 2, 2022, following his support for nationwide protests against the killing of Mahsa Amini, and was sentenced to death on November 7 of the same year by the Tehran Public and Revolutionary Court on charges of "moharebeh" (waging war against God). This sentence was overturned by the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic, and his case is currently being sent for re-examination to a parallel branch.