Iran: Veteran journalist sentenced to 5-year jail

Kayvan Samimi, editor in Chief of Iran Farda magazine, has been sentenced in absentia to five years in prison. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Association of Iranian journalists in condemning this illegal decision and urges the Iranian Government to immediately drop the charges.

Credit: IFJ Journalist Keyvan Samimi

On 20 April 2020, Kayvan Samimi, was sentenced in absentia by the Iran Revolutionary Court following his arrest on 1 May 2019 during a peaceful demonstration on International Workers' Day in Tehran. The journalist has expressed his concerns about the Court decision through a private Telegram channel. According to Iranian media the charges against Samimi include having founded the People's Liberation Party (a socialist party founded 22 years ago), being the Chief Editor of Iran Farda, inflaming citizens and taking part in illegal public meetings.

Samimi had already served six years in jail from 2009 to 2015 following his reporting of the 2009 elections.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "We are appalled by this Court decision sentencing a well-respected colleague to jail because he marched for workers’ rights among other allegations. Iran must respect journalists trade union rights and stop attacking reporters and breaching fundamental human rights"

For further information contact IFJ Middle East & Arab World on +32 (0) 2 235 22 11

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 140 countries

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