Summoning of Four Journalists to Evin Prosecutor's Office and Culture and Media Court

Iran's intelligence agencies summoned three journalists and media activists, Zhila Baniyaghoub, Pejman Mousavi, and Omid Faraghat, while searching the homes of two of them. Additionally, Mehdi Mahmoudian, a journalist and former political prisoner, stated that he was summoned to serve an eight-month prison sentence. News sources reported on Wednesday, January 23, that Iran's intelligence agencies, in a separate action, raided the homes of well-known journalists Zhila Baniyaghoub and Pejman Mousavi, and summoned media activist Omid Faraghat to Evin Prosecutor's Office. Ms. Baniyaghoub described the raid by Iran's intelligence forces on her home on Tuesday, January 22, stating that the agents, without mentioning any charges, told her she must introduce herself to one of the branches of Evin Prosecutor's Office. She reported that 'more than 10-12 agents' stormed their home and told her husband, 'We have a letter from the post.' She said, 'I woke up and, sitting in bed, was stunned to see men entering the house one after another. There was also a female officer who stood in the room next to me until I put on appropriate clothing.' The journalist expressed her objection to the agents' manner and explained that the paper presented to her did not mention any charges. She explained that the agents 'searched the house, took laptops and phones,' and her husband Bahman Amoui's objection, stating that the order presented only mentioned Zhila's name and that they had no right to take his laptop and phone as they were his work tools, was futile. According to Ms. Baniyaghoub, one of the agents told her husband, 'Why are you so attached to the laptop? Are you a Snap driver that you say it is your work tools?' Zhila Baniyaghoub stated, 'I must introduce myself to one of the branches of Evin Prosecutor's Office,' adding, 'They will probably tell me what my charge is at another time.' Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported that judicial agents entered the home of journalist Pejman Mousavi, searched his house in Tehran, and confiscated his mobile phone. At the same time, this human rights organization announced that Omid Faraghat, a journalist and media activist residing in Karaj, also received a notification stating that he must refer to the fourth branch of Evin Prosecutor's Office within five days. According to these reports, it is unclear why the Iranian intelligence and judicial officials summoned these three journalists. On the other hand, Mehdi Mahmoudian, a journalist and civil activist, wrote on Wednesday on social media platform X that he was summoned to Evin Prosecutor's Office for serving an eight-month prison sentence. This journalist stated that Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court accused him of 'propaganda against the regime' due to his criticism of 'the lying policy' and sentenced him to eight months in prison. Mr. Mahmoudian expressed hope for the arrival of 'days without dictatorship and authoritarianism,' stating that he will appear at the Culture and Media Prosecutor's Office next Sunday. According to the annual report by the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 256 journalists and media outlets in Iran faced judicial and intelligence persecution last year. In that year, prison sentences were executed against 11 journalists, and at least 36 journalists were arrested. Pressure on civil activists, journalists, and lawyers has increased in recent months by Iran's intelligence agencies and judicial officials.