Tag: Sadegh Zibakalam

Tehran Prosecutor Files Charges Against Sadegh Zibakalam

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Freedom of Expression, News
Evin Prison, HRANA, Mohammad Izadi, Sadegh Zibakalam, Tehran, صادق زیباکلام

HRANA News Agency – The Tehran Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against Sadegh Zibakalam for posts he made on social media. Zibakalam, a political analyst and prisoner, is currently on medical furlough from Evin Prison.

According to HRANA, quoting Mizan, the charges against Mr. Zibakalam were initiated without specifying the exact nature of the allegations, with the reasoning cited as his social media activity.

Previously, following the enforcement of his prison sentences, Mr. Zibakalam was transferred to Evin Prison on May 12, 2024. Shortly thereafter, his lawyer, Mohammad Izadi, revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer while in custody. In September 2024, he was granted medical furlough.

In his first case, Mr. Zibakalam was sentenced to 18 months in prison and a two-year ban on participating in political parties, groups, and online activities for “propaganda against the regime.” In a second case, he received a one-year prison sentence for similar charges. In a third case, he was sentenced to six months in prison for “publishing false information.” These sentences were enforced following appeals to the Supreme Court.

In recent years, the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against Mr. Zibakalam for posts on topics such as the deadly Kerman explosions, reports of student poisonings, and “publishing false, undocumented, and inaccurate information” online.

Sadegh Zibakalam is a political science professor, author, and prominent Iranian analyst with reformist and liberal views. He has previously faced convictions for his activities.

Crackdown on Dissent Following Kerman Blasts: Dozens Arrested and Prosecuted

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Freedom of Expression, News
Kerman, Mazandaran, Qasem Soleimani, Sadegh Zibakalam, South Khorasan province

In the aftermath of the tragic explosions in Kerman during Qasem Soleimani’s commemoration ceremony, claiming numerous lives and causing injuries, security forces and affiliated individuals on social media have actively sought to identify and apprehend those expressing opinions about the incident. As a result, dozens of individuals have been summoned, arrested, and had their social media pages removed, with an estimated 76 people detained in connection to these events.

According to 32 reports from social media channels associated with Iran’s security institutions, at least 76 arrests have been made, 108 individuals have been summoned to security/judicial institutions, 537 social media pages were taken down, and two businesses in Mazandaran and South Khorasan Province were closed.

In an attempt to instill fear and suppress dissent, these security-affiliated channels have doxed 28 citizens, leading to their subsequent arrests and prosecutions. Furthermore, one security-affiliated channel has released a video featuring the coerced confession of a citizen, although the location and circumstances of the recording remain unclear. In the video, the detainee expresses regret for his opinions, attributing his actions to the influence of social media.

The regime’s approach has sparked concerns about potential violations of citizens’ privacy rights. Additionally, the Tehran prosecutor has announced legal action against Sadegh Zibakalam, an author and political pundit, and seven others for their statements regarding the recent blasts in Kerman. Furthermore, several students have faced disciplinary measures from universities due to their opinions on the incident.

Eight Film and Media Practitioners Face Legal Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Hanieh Tavassoli, Hengameh Ghaziani, Maryam Boubani, Milad Alavi, Mojgan Ilanlou, Omid Tousheh, Sadegh Zibakalam, Sahar Valadbeigi, Sara Massoumi, Tahmineh Rezaie Milani, Taraneh Alidoosti

The Tehran Prosecutor’s Office has brought charges against seven film practitioners, including Taraneh Alidoosti, Mojgan Ilanlou, Hengameh Ghaziani, Tahmineh Rezaie Milani, Sahar Valadbeigi, Maryam Boubani, Hanieh Tavassoli, and media activist Omid Tousheh.

They are accused of “disseminating false information on the Internet,” as reported by IRNA.

Notably, just a day before, the Tehran Prosecutor also indicted Sadegh Zibakalam, an Iranian academic and writer, Sara Massoumi, Milad Alavi, and the administrator of a Telegram Channel on the same charge.

Among these eight individuals, Alidoosti, Ilanlou, Ghaziani, Milani, and Tavassoli have previously faced arrests and convictions.

Sadegh Zibakalam Sentenced to One Year in Prison for News Dissemination

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Freedom of Expression, News
Criminal Court, Sadegh Zibakalam, serial poison attacks, Tehran

The Criminal Court of Tehran has handed down a one-year prison sentence to Sadegh Zibakalam, a prominent professor at the University of Tehran and political pundit. The verdict is related to his role in sharing news regarding serial poison attacks on schools.

According to the court’s decision on July 2, 2023, Zibakalam has been convicted of “spreading falsehood to disturb public opinion online,” resulting in a one-year sentence. The court session took place on June 27, 2023. It’s important to note that Zibakalam, aged 65, is widely recognized as an academic, author, and reformist neo-liberal pundit.

Since late November, a series of poison attacks on schools, particularly girls’ schools, have shaken the country. Parents’ protests demanding answers were met with a heavy-handed response. Despite the passage of eight months and the arrest of several suspects, the Iranian authorities have yet to provide a satisfactory explanation to the public. For more detailed information and statistics, please refer to the HRANA report.”