Hassan Abbasi and Farshid Ma’naie Indicted

The Fourth Branch of the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office in Bandar Abbas has issued arrest warrants for Hassan Abbasi, a journalist, and Farshid Ma’naie, the CEO of the Hormozgan Spinal Cord Injury Association.

Abbasi revealed that the Prosecutor’s Office found both him and Ma’naie guilty of “making false statements and spreading misinformation.” In 2022, the Bandar Abbas Prosecutor initiated legal action against them over their criticism of the judiciary.

Additionally, Abbasi faces further complaints from multiple entities, including the Welfare Organization, the Governor’s Office, the General Department of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, as well as the Hormozgan Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture.

Recently, Abbasi received a summons from the prosecutor’s office for his final defense on charges of “disturbing public order, defamation, insulting officials and agents, and spreading false information.” He was called to present his defense before the court.

On May 21, 2024, security forces detained Abbasi in Bandar Abbas. However, he was released after several hours.

Abbasi has a history of arrests and legal challenges due to his professional activities. He is currently an editorial board member of Tabnak, a news website, and a member of the Tehran Journalists Association, with past collaborations including work with Mehr News Agency.