Hossein Shanbehzadeh, a writer, editor, and resident of Tehran, remains in a state of uncertainty over a month after his arrest. His detention has recently been extended.

Abbas Shanbehzadeh, his brother, shared an update on his current situation, stating: “Hossein Shanbehzadeh’s detention has been extended, and we are allowed to visit him twice a month.”

Shanbehzadeh was arrested by security forces on June 4, 2024, in Ardabil. Following his arrest, Tasnim News Agency, close to security agencies, reported, citing the Ardabil Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor, that Hossein Shanbehzadeh was arrested on charges of espionage for Israel. Jalal Afaqi, the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of Ardabil, claimed that “Hossein Shanbehzadeh was in contact with high-ranking officers of Mossad through a social network and gathered information needed by Mossad under the guise of editorial activities.”

Shanbehzadeh was previously arrested for his activities on the social network X (formerly Twitter) and was released on bail later.

The trial of Hossein Shanbehzadeh on these charges was held on September 12, 2020, in Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. He was sentenced to three years and six months in prison for “blasphemy,” eighteen months for “insulting the Supreme Leader,” and ten months for “propaganda against the regime.” This verdict was upheld by Branch 36 of the Tehran Court of Appeals.

In June 2022, Shanbehzadeh posted on his page on social media that he was summoned to begin serving his sentence in Evin Prison. Shanbehzadeh was ultimately released from prison in April 2023.