Searches of Homes and Simultaneous Summons of Journalists and Civil Activists in Iran

Reports from Iran indicate the beginning of a new wave of summons and searches of the homes of journalists and civil and political activists. Several journalists have reported searches of their homes and the confiscation of their electronic and communication devices, while some civil and political activists say they have been summoned to serve prison sentences. Zhila Bani-Yaghoub, a journalist residing in Tehran, wrote on her account on the social media platform X that more than 10 security agents entered her home and seized personal belongings, mobile phones, and laptops belonging to her and her husband, Bahman Ahmadi Amoui. The security agents entered the home of these two journalists in the early hours of January 29. Ms. Bani-Yaghoub also reported being summoned to the public and revolutionary prosecutor's office in Evin. On Tuesday, February 21, security agents also entered the home of Pejman Mousavi, editor-in-chief of the monthly magazine 'Tajrobe,' conducting a search and seizing electronic and communication devices belonging to this journalist residing in Tehran. Mr. Mousavi has also been summoned to the investigation branch of the 33rd district prosecutor's office in Evin. There is no information available regarding the charges against these two journalists. Omid Faraghat is another journalist who has been summoned to the same prosecutor's office. He wrote on his account on X that on Tuesday, he was accused of propaganda against the regime in the 4th branch of the public and revolutionary prosecutor's office in the 33rd district of Tehran and was released on bail with property documents. These journalists have previously faced arrests, imprisonment, and deprivation. Concurrently with these reports, five civil and political activists have also reported being summoned to serve their prison sentences, although the number of those summoned for execution of sentences in various cities of Iran is higher. Mohammad Reza Faqihi, a lawyer who was sentenced to five years in prison for participating in a gathering of lawyers in Tehran, went to prison on Tuesday, February 21, according to Mustafa Nili, another lawyer in Tehran. At the same time, Mehdi Mahmoudian, a political and civil activist, announced that he had been summoned to the Culture and Media Prosecutor's Office to serve an eight-month prison sentence. Mr. Mahmoudian, who was sentenced to prison for informing about bedbugs in Evin prison, wrote on his account on X that he would introduce himself to the court on Sunday. Majid Shiaali, a civil activist in Mashhad, also announced that based on the summons he received, he must introduce himself to Vakilabad prison in Mashhad. Mehdi Maghderi, a former member of the Isfahan City Council, and Majid Tavakoli, a political activist in Tehran, are other activists who have been summoned to serve their sentences. Ahmad Zeidabadi, a journalist in Tehran, in an open letter to the head of Iran's judiciary, titled 'Urgent Request,' called for the non-execution of Majid Tavakoli's sentence. It is still unclear what the reason for this new wave of summonses is and exactly how many civil and political activists have been summoned. The Committee to Protect Journalists, based in New York, announced at the end of last year that Iran is the sixth largest prison for journalists and media activists after China, Myanmar, Belarus, Russia, and Vietnam.