The Case of Journalists Nasim Soltanbeigi and Saeedeh Shafiei Sent to Appeals Court

Following the conviction of Nasim Soltanbeigi and Saeedeh Shafiei by the Revolutionary Court to serve four years and three months in prison, the case of these two female journalists has been sent to the Tehran Appeals Court. The news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, HRANA, reported on Tuesday, September 7, that the case of Saeedeh Shafiei and Nasim Soltanbeigi has been forwarded to Branch 36 of the Tehran Appeals Court. According to the ruling issued by Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, Saeedeh Shafiei and Nasim Soltanbeigi have been sentenced to four years and three months in prison, in addition to being banned from leaving the country for two years and prohibited from membership in groups. Mehrnoush Zarei Hanzaki, the third journalist accused in this joint case, has been acquitted of the charges. They were convicted of 'conspiracy and collusion against national security' and 'propaganda against the regime,' while Mehrnoush Zarei Hanzaki was acquitted of these charges. According to the report, Iman Afshari, who presided over the preliminary court session, referred to the writings of these journalists on social media and insulted them, which was not part of the charges against them. During this session, Badr al-Sadat Mofidi, a representative of the Tehran Journalists' Association, defended the three accused journalists. Saeedeh Shafiei, a journalist and author of the books 'Daughter of the Spiral' and 'Gorakhanou Station,' was arrested by security forces in Tehran on January 22 and was temporarily released on bail of 500 million tomans on February 7 until the end of the legal proceedings. Additionally, Nasim Soltanbeigi was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents at the airport while attempting to leave the country on January 21, 2023, and was transferred to Evin Prison. She was released temporarily on February 6 after posting bail until the end of the legal proceedings. Also see: The conviction of two journalists to more than four years in prison and a two-year exit ban from Iran. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, in his latest report to the Human Rights Council, stated that from July 31, 2022, to April 15, 2023, more than 70 journalists, including 25 women, have been arrested, and 16 journalists are still in prison. Some of these detained journalists have received sentences ranging from 12 to 18 months in prison, have been banned from leaving the country, and have had their journalism activities revoked. According to the latest report by Reporters Without Borders on media freedom published on May 2, 2023, Iran ranks 177th among 180 countries worldwide. The International Federation of Journalists, while updating the list of imprisoned journalists in Iran, reiterated that journalism is not a crime and the Islamic Republic must release all imprisoned journalists and media activists. A journalist residing in Iran previously told Voice of America that 'pressures on the media in Iran' have intensified significantly following nationwide protests in the second half of 2022, and the Islamic Republic's expectation from the media is 'to produce propaganda bulletins,' and due to 'critical analyses,' they are pressured under vague titles such as 'blackening.' Also see: Exclusive interview with two journalists in Iran; from confronting 'fabrication' to arrest on charges of 'blackening.' The U.S. State Department has called for the release of Iranian journalists who were 'unjustly' detained in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody of the morality police and in connection with the coverage of that incident. Also see: The 300th day of Niloufar Hamedi's detention; U.S. reaction to the arbitrary detention of journalists in Iran. Human rights organizations express concern about the health of political prisoners; the Islamic Republic prevents medical treatment. The Raisi administration's request to governors: Introduce instances of 'blackening' to judicial authorities. Another journalist summoned for publishing a photo of women dancing without hijabs at the Lidoma festival in Tehran. The six-year prison sentence of Keyvan Samimi confirmed. The Tehran Journalists' Association expresses concern about the dire state of journalism in Iran. Journalist Day and 'symbolic appreciation' of 'loyal' journalists; independent journalists are in detention or under pressure.