Mahsa Amini Family Lawyer Tried for “Propaganda”

The court hearing for Saleh Nikbakht, the legal representative of Mahsa Amini's family, took place on Tuesday, August 29, in Branch 28 of the Islamic Revolution Court of Tehran.

Ali Rezaei, the lawyer for Nikbakht, stated that during this session he was accused of "propaganda activity" against the Islamic Republic. 

He pointed out that this accusation was brought without giving Nikbakht the opportunity for an oral defense or a comprehensive examination of the case.

Rezaei added that this allegation pertained to Nikbakht's interviews with both domestic and foreign media outlets. 

He revealed that the presiding judge suspended Nikbakht's and his lawyer's presentations to a subsequent hearing.

The charges against Nikbakht are the latest in a series of crackdowns on lawyers and activists in Iran. 

The Ministry of Intelligence, which is the plaintiff in the case, alleges that Nikbakht has been "motivating" the Amini family to seek legal redress for their daughter's death. 

The September 2022 death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini sparked a wave of nationwide anger. She had been arrested for allegedly wearing a hijab improperly.

The nationwide protest movement appears to have waned in recent months following a bloody crackdown by security forces.

More than 500 people have been killed in the clampdown and over 20,000 have been unlawfully detained, activists say.

Following biased trials, the judiciary has handed down stiff sentences, including the death penalty, to protesters.