Journalists Imprisoned in 2017 - Yaghma Fashkhami
| Publisher | Committee to Protect Journalists |
| Publication Date | 31 December 2017 |
| Cite as | Committee to Protect Journalists, Journalists Imprisoned in 2017 - Yaghma Fashkhami, 31 December 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a5c92a9a.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Didban Iran (Iran Watch) | Imprisoned in Iran | August 21, 2017
| Job: | Internet Reporter, Print Reporter |
| Medium: | Internet, Print |
| Beats Covered: | Politics |
| Gender: | Male |
| Local or Foreign: | Local |
| Freelance: | No |
| Charge: | No charge |
| Length of Sentence: | Not Sentenced |
| Reported Health Problems: | Yes |
Security agents arrested Yaghma Fashkhami, a reporter for Didban Iran, at the news website's Tehran office on August 21, 2017, according to news reports.
In an October 15 interview with Ensaf News, Fashkhami's brother Amir said Yaghma was accused of "propaganda against the regime." Amir Fashkhami said the journalist was not doing well, but did not provide further detail.
On September 31, judiciary spokesman Mohsen Ejei said during his weekly news conference that the arrests of Fashkhami and Sasan Aghaei, a journalist from Entekhab News detained the same month but in a separate case, were a matter of national security, and that formal charges had not been filed, Entekhab News reported.
As of late 2017, Tehran's public prosecutor had repeatedly extended Fashkhami's 30-day detention period, the pro-opposition Kalame news website reported. In Iran, those facing national security-related accusations can be detained indefinitely until authorities file a charge.
Officials at Evin Prison have denied the family access to Fashkhami and his brother is allowed to speak with him once a week by phone, Amir Fashkhami told Ensaf News. The family has requested better access to the journalist, according to the report.
Didban Iran is sympathetic to Iran's Green Movement, according to news reports. Fashkhami previously worked at Rozan, which provided similar coverage of the opposition Green Movement. Authorities ordered Rozan to shut down in December 2014, according to BBC Persian. Fashkhami was previously a writer for the monthly magazine Payam Hajer. Authorities arrested and briefly detained the journalist in 2015, according to Radio Farda.
