Special to WorldTribune.com
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Four Iranian journalists have been given prison sentences of between five and 10 years on charges of acting against Iran’s national security.
Lawyers for the journalists announced the sentences to Iranian state media on April 26.
All four were arrested in November on accusations of being members of what Iranian state media described as an “infiltration network belonging to the U.S. and United Kingdom governments.”
Davoud Assadi, an opinion columnist, was given a 10-year sentence while Afarine Chitsaz, a woman journalist, received a five-year term.
Ehsan Mazandarani, editor in chief of the Iranian daily Farhikhtegan, was ordered to seven years in prison.
Saman Safarzayi received a five-year sentence.
The fate of a fifth arrested Iranian journalist, Issa Saharkhiz, remains unclear.
Saharkhiz, manager of the banned publication Aftab, was the head of the Culture Ministry’s press office under reformist former President Mohammad Khatami.
Nearly 100 Iranian journalists signed a statement in December calling for the release of the journalists — saying the charges against them were “baseless and repetitive.”
Ignoring petition, Iran sentences 4 journalists for threatening national security added by Editor One on
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