Farzaneh Zilabi, a lawyer, reported on the case of three writers and journalists in Abadan, stating that the hearing for Mandana Sadeghi, her husband Reza Mohammadi, and Arash Ghalagholab Abadani took place on Wednesday, March 6, at the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Abadan. In an interview with the newspaper 'Shargh', Ms. Zilabi announced the charges against the three as 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic', 'gathering and colluding to commit a crime against national security', and 'communication with hostile governments'. She added that the charges against Mandana Sadeghi and Arash Ghalagholab are mainly related to news and analyses they published regarding the Metropol collapse disaster and the protests of 2022, referring to the nationwide protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police. This lawyer emphasized that the case began with incorrect and undocumented reports and lacks evidential support to substantiate the charges against her clients. According to Farzaneh Zilabi, the case of these Abadani journalists reflects the existing problems in the media and legal environment in Iran, as her clients are being prosecuted in court for the slogan 'Abd al-Baqi is not dead' (referring to Hossein Abd al-Baqi, the owner of the collapsed Metropol tower in Abadan) or for writing about waste collectors, which is deemed 'propaganda activity'. Mandana Sadeghi, a writer and journalist, along with her husband Reza Mohammadi, was arrested by the security forces of the Islamic Republic at their home in Abadan on October 19, 2022, and transferred to Ahvaz. They were later released on bail. The couple had previously faced legal actions due to their activities. Earlier, in March 2021, Mandana Sadeghi was tried for 'propaganda against the regime' along with Kourosh Kermpour for 'insulting the leadership and propaganda against the regime' in the criminal court of Ahvaz, and they were subsequently acquitted. Arash Ghalagholab was also arrested by security forces with violence on June 26, 2022, during a mourning event for the victims of the Metropol incident, and he was released on bail on July 7 of the same year.
Trial of 3 Writers and Journalists at the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Abadan
Three writers and journalists, Mandana Sadeghi, Reza Mohammadi, and Arash Ghalagholab, are on trial in Abadan for charges including propaganda against the Islamic Republic and collusion against national security, primarily related to their reporting on the Metropol collapse and protests following Mahsa Amini's death. Their case highlights ongoing issues in Iran's media and legal environment.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Three journalists in Iran face trial for charges related to propaganda and national security.
- Islamic Republic security forces arrest Mandana Sadeghi, Reza Mohammadi
- Islamic Revolutionary Court prosecute Mandana Sadeghi, Reza Mohammadi, Arash Ghalagholab Abadani
- Islamic Revolutionary Court charge Mandana Sadeghi, Reza Mohammadi, Arash Ghalagholab Abadani
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The trial underscores the Iranian government's crackdown on media and dissent.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%