Municipal Grievance Lands Urban Reporter Vahid Ahang in Prison

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA)- Pursuant to a complaint lodged by the Municipality of Dishmok, city-life beat reporter Vahid Ahang was arrested on October 31, 2018, by security agents and transferred to Dehdasht prison.

Ahang reportedly covers municipal business from a critical angle. According to an informed source, his recent arrest has roots in an accusation leveled against him back in 2013 of insulting, slandering, and threatening municipal workers.

Cases involving alleged defamation by reporters are typically processed in Media Court before being transferred to a local court with appropriate jurisdiction. It is not yet clear why Ahang’s case was expedited directly to Dishmok Court.

Dishmok and Dehdasht are counties in the southwestern province of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad.

Journalist Masoud Kazemi Arrested

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) – On the morning of November 5th, Masoud Kazemi, journalist and editor-in-chief of the monthly magazine “Sedaye Parsi,” was arrested in his home by security forces and transferred to an undisclosed location.

Upon inspecting his home at the time of the arrest, agents confiscated some of Kazemi’s personal belongings, including laptops, hard drives, and USB drives.

Close source Shima Tadrisi confirmed the news of Kazemi’s arrest in a short note, writing, “His neighbors said that some people entered his home and then took Masoud away with them.” It was not clear to the neighbors which agency had sent them, she said.

Kazemi tweeted the day before his arrest about corruption in the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade. As of the date of this report, no further information was available on his location or the reasons behind his arrest.

Journalist Massoud Kordpour returns to prison

HRANA News Agency – On August 25, 2014, Massoud Kordpour returned to Mahabad Prison at the conclusion of his furlough. His request for an extension has been denied.
On November 9, the Revolutionary Court in Mahabad convicted Massoud and Khosro Kordpour on charges of conspiracy and incitement against the Islamic regime. Both brothers are two jailed Iranian journalists and Kurdish activists.
The judge sentenced Massoud to three years in prison on charges of conspiracy and six months for incitement. Likewise, Khosro received five years on charges of conspiracy and one year for incitement. Khosro was exiled to a prison in Tabriz to serve his term.
Currently, Massoud is behind bars in Mahabad Prison, and Khosro is in Tabriz Prison. “Khosro has been denied furlough so far,” a member of the family said. “He is being held with regular inmates.”