Many journalists have been banned from press activities even though they are professionals who wish to continue their careers.
Interview with Masoud Lavasani
By: Sheida Jahanbin
The recent arbitrary detainment of members of the press is a tactic of the Islamic Republic of Iran in its attempt to silence any discourse, communication or disclosure of events.
Whenever the political climate has become sensitive, journalists have been among the first to be targeted with arrests and detainment. During the period of the 2009 presidential elections, the detainment of journalists had reached peak levels where at times there were reports of 3 or more arrests per day.
These journalists endured difficult incarcerations spending time behind bars in solitary confinement and serving long sentences. With time, some were temporarily released until their court date by paying heavy bails or bonds. Others stayed behind bars, now serving prison terms throughout the country. Heavy sentences have been handed down to journalists with many exceeding 10 years behind bars and others receiving additional penalties banning them from taking part in press activities or working for media outlets.
Among the incarcerated was journalist and blogger Masoud Lavasani who was detained on September 26, 2009. He was held behind bars in Evin prison and has recently been released after the end of his sentence. He spoke to Human Rights House of Iran about the charges that were brought against him. “The prosecutor’s main charge against me was ‘propaganda against regime’. This was based on accounts by the cyber police corps convincing the Revolutionary Court to issue a warrant for my arrest on September 26, 2009. My activities were on the Internet and my reports of the events following the tenth presidential elections were published on my blog, resulting in my arrest.”
Masoud Lavasani was detained even though he had a long history of press activities in a variety of fields in the media including literature and culture. He is a renowned and brilliant journalist who has repeatedly been recognized and praised by both government and non-government agencies.
The sentence issued to this journalist by the original court was 8.5 years in prison, of which one year was for his Internet activities. However adding to the 8.5 years handed down to him, he also received the sentence of “prohibition of press activities”. The Tehran prosecutor made a written request for the added penalty since in his view the 8.5 years behind bars was not sufficient punishment for this journalist.
Lavasani spoke of the verdict issued against him to Human Rights House of Iran. “I never saw my original sentence when it was issued to me. I was not able to meet with my lawyer except for the one time I was in court. Therefore I don’t know the exact judgment against me, and the reason for my being banned from working in the press. The judgment that was handed down by the appellate court was announced to me verbally at Evin prison without anything in writing. I was told that I was ‘banned from taking part in any press activities for 10 years’.”
This is despite the fact that according to interviewed lawyers, “banning from press activities” cannot be handed down in addition to other issued sentences and according to Article 19 of the penal code it is illegal to issue this kind of added penalty. The lawyers state that Article 19 of the penal code has a clause making it illegal to further chastise the condemned by baring them from certain activities or movements.
Special courts for security issues usually handle crimes that are press and Internet related. However for Masoud Lavasani and a large number of journalists who have been issued sentences barring them from press activities, there has been no opportunity for an appellate court session regarding this sentencing.
Press activists raise the issue that the arrests of journalists are under the premise of them being a security risk, yet their trials are not taking place in the appropriate courts, considering the country has laws stating the penalties for press and Internet crimes.
These types of heavy sentences have been handed down to the likes of jailed journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi who is banned for life from practicing his profession as a journalist. Jila Baniyaghoob, Badrolsadat Mofidi, and Keyvan Samimi are among journalists who have been given long-term sentences in rulings that are clearly intended for censorship and silencing of opposing voices.
The removal of transparency that took place after the disputed elections of 2009 resulted in Iran to join the ranks of countries in the world that are labeled as “prisoner of journalists.”
According to journalists who are out of prison after serving their time, even though there are a large number of journalists serving their sentences in cities throughout the country, they continue their work from behind bars. Among the activities taking place behind bars is conducting journalism and literature classes, pursuing news of the country and creating wall publications.
Regarding the sentences of being barred from media activities, the families of incarcerated journalists have shared that these professionals who have spent most of their lives working in their field will not be able to enter another line of work when they are released. Even if they do find a different occupation, it will be far from their interests and passions.
Article in Persian: http://www.rahana.org/archives/44918