Iranian Journalist Shafiei Starts Prison Sentence

Iranian journalist Saeideh Shafiei has started serving a prison sentence of three years and a half at Tehran's Evin prison, her husband says.

In a post on the social media platform X on November 19, Hassan Homayoun said that she is being punished for having written about poverty and discrimination in Iran. He also expressed deep concern over his wife's health.

Shafiei disclosed on November 12 she had received a summons from the Department of Law Enforcement which mandated her to report to prison on November 13 to start serving her prison sentence. But the journalist was told to leave when she handed herself over to the Evin Prosecutor’s Office on that day. 

On September 18, the Court of Appeal for Tehran province upheld the prison terms issued to both Shafiei and her fellow journalist Nasim Sultan Beigi. 

Shafiei, who is a member of the International Federation of Journalists, was charged with "propaganda activities against the system" and " gathering and collusion against national security."