Rouhollah Zam

Ruhollah Zam is the founder of Amad News (Sedaye Mardom) website and Telegram channel. Amad News had become one of the most well-known and influential Telegram channels. During the early 2018 protests, the channel had more than two million followers. In addition to Mr Zam, his family were also pressured by the security forces.

Ruhollah Zam was born on July 27, 1978. He was executed on December 22, 2020. <symbol-timeline></symbol-timeline>

• <coverage-outsourcing id='27058'> Seyyed Ali Khamenei gave a Friday prayer speech on June 19, 2019 and a few days later, many supporters of the Green movement were arrested. Ruhollah Zam was among those arrested by the IRGC’s Intelligence Department and sent to Evin Prison’s Section 2A. He was held in solitary for a long time. According to his statements, he was “tortured” by IRGC forces there. He was released from Evin a few months later. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='30410'> He left Iran. After residing in Malaysia and Turkey, he went to France. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='27059'> <reference source='https://ipa.united4iran.org/media/file_evidence/Rouhollah-Zam_31Q7oq1.pdf'> Ruhollah Zam wrote a letter to Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, to protest the misbehavior of the security apparatus toward himself and other protesters of the Green Movement. The letter has a sharp tone. Zam speaks of his interrogations at the Section 2A: “I heard five people beating up someone to make him confess to having a gun.” Speaking of the misbehavior he suffered himself, Zam writes: “Each of the interrogators had a special task; One was in charge of physical misbehavior (torture or beating up), the other did the verbal insults.” In part of his letter, Zam compares Khamenei to the late Shah: “I am sure that, like the former Shah of Iran, you will hear the voice of the nation when it’s too late. But there is a fundamental difference between the late king and the current king of Iran. To calm the anger of people down and to prevent bloodshed, he left Iran and left his political future tied to the destiny of the Iranian nation but you have no intention of giving up government and letting the Iranian nation decide its own fate.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='30411'> It is said that he worked for "Saham News" from 2014 to 2016 </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='31532'> Amadnews started its activity from this date. In his forced confessions with the "Bedune Taarof" program, Ruhollah Zam has stated that he established Amadnews to fight against economic corruption. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='27060'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/amadnews/'> Speaking to IPA, Ruhollah Zam said more than 150 people had been arrested in relation to Amad News (to the date of the interview’s publication). He said they included his family members. To put pressure on political prisoners, the Iranian government uses methods like arresting friends and relatives of opponents or critics or pressures such as dismissal from work. The text of Mr Zam's interview with IPA is you be found on the evidence page. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='27050'> The intelligence forces of the IRGC worked with Iran’s state broadcaster to produce a “documentary” entitled “The Last Station of Lies.” The film shows Ruhollah Zam caught in a trap by a member of the security forces. According to the claims in this video, Amad News content has been directed by the influence of intelligence apparatus. In response to the video, Mr Zam denied the claims of security bodies and said he already knew that the person in question had links to intelligence bodies; knowing this, he wanted to mislead the intelligence forces of the Iranian government, he said. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='27418'> <reference source='https://ipa.united4iran.org/media/file_evidence/Ticket_7oYihWW.jpg'> According to the information of Rouhollah Zam's ticket, he left Paris for the capital of Jordan, at 16:25 on October 11 and departed for another flight to Baghdad after an hour and a half minute stopover. He arrived at Baghdad Airport at 00:50 on Saturday, October 12. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='27049'> On this date, media close to the Iranian government said Ruhollah Zam had been arrested. IRGC published a statement to confirm the news of his arrest. These news didn’t make clear where was Mr Zam being held but unconfirmed reports said he was arrested either in Iraq by the IRGC intelligence forces. Few hours after the news came out, the Iranian government published a video in which Zam expresses remorse for his political and media activities and confesses to “collaborating” with “intelligence apparatus of foreign countries.” Many of those who have found a way out of prison after their televised confessions were broadcast, have spoken of undergoing massive torture aimed at extracting their forced confessions for camera. At the same time as Zam’s arrest, repots claimed that another member of Amad News team had been arrested but the person in question subsequently denied these reports. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='27099'> Speaking to BBC, Mahsa Razani, Zam’s wife, said he was arrested on Iraqi soil. She said that a colleague was accompanying Zam to Iraq but that “she wasn’t arrested.” She said Zam was going to Iraq after a short stop in an airport in Oman. According to Zam’s wife, she knew nothing of his whereabouts 24 hours after he reached Baghdad and his mobile phone was also out of service. After 24 hours, on October 12, Mr Zam calls France to tell his wife: “I have no internet access and I will contact you after I buy a sim card tomorrow.” This was the last conversation between the two and Zam hasn’t contacted his family from when he was arrested to then (October 16.) Speaking of their last conversation, Ms Razani said: “Mr Zam was speaking with a completely unusual tone. And unfortunately in that moment, I did not get the change in tone.” </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='27417'> <reference source='https://ipa.united4iran.org/media/file_evidence/France.pdf'> French Foreign Ministry spokesman told reporters that Rouhollah Zam left France on October 11th. “He was a refugee in France and free to enter or exit the country,'' he said. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='27419'> “Shirin Najafi traveled to Iraq to accompany Ruhollah Zam, She had not been arrested and had no role in the arrest of Ruhollah Zam.”, Mahsa Razani, wife of Ruhollah Zam, told BBC News. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='27100'> Quoting a credible source in the Iraqi government, the BBC said Zam had been arrested by Iraq’s intelligence apparatus and given to the IRGC. Some believe that Zam’s arrest by the Iraqi government was done to save the Islamic Republic from the charge of kidnapping. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='34735'> According to a credible source who spoke to IPA, a few days after Ruhollah Zam was arrested, one of Shirin Najafi’s friends asked her to share her location via her mobile phone so that the friend could make sure Najafi was not under arrest. Najafi refused to do so, claiming security concerns. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='27273'> Intelligence Service published a video of Ruhollah Zam after his arrest and interrogation. “Mr. Rostami has received money in return for sending the news to me”, Mr. Zam said in the published video. Meanwhile, the interrogators of the Revolutionary Guards aired a recorded voice of someone saying, "Ruhollah, prepare some money." Atlas emphasizes on lack of evidence to attribute this sound to Mr. Rostami and believe in invalidation of forced confessions. According to the information published in the video, Mr. Rostami has been sentenced to ten years in prison. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='27168'> <reference source='https://ipa.united4iran.org/media/file_evidence/BBc.pdf'> The BBC published a report regarding Ruhollah Zam, Mohammad Hossein Rostami and Reza Golpour. Zam's "confessions" about his connection with Mohammad Hossein Rostami is not a new object, and this accusation went to Rostami in several ways since his arrest, said the report. "espionage for Israel" is one of the charges against Mr. Rostami but no evidence has ever been released till now. So lack of this evidence could be one of the susceptibility reasons for the Revolutionary Guards. Amad News had published news after Mohammad Hossein Rostami's arrest. According to the news, Mr. Rostami's arrest was "personal disagreements" with the Intelligence chief (Hossein Taeb). Part of this report points to the role of Reza Golpour and Mohammad Hossein Rostami in revealing the Revolutionary Guards' financial corruption. Remarkably, they had already declared that revealing the government's corruption is the reason for their arrest. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='34732'> <reference source='https://t.me/IranintlTV/38166'> Following the arrest of Ruhollah Zam, Shirin Najafi provided interviews to Iran International and Iran Farda TV channels. Many individuals who watched these interviews, questioned whether Najafi had been arrested on social media. On a live news show, a TV anchor asked Najafi to turn her camera around and show the audience her surroundings to prove she was free. Najafi refused to do so, claiming she was a guest at someone else’s house and did not want to violate their privacy. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='27152'> "The arrests related to the Presidential Administration in connection with the Amadnews should be clear to the public.", Javad Karimi Ghodousi, Member of The Islamic Parliament, wrote on his Twitter account. Later, Judiciary's Spokesman denied the claims of arresting government-related officials and said: No one has been arrested in the government or the armed forces related to Ruhollah Zam.Don’t speculate unreasonably. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='28197'> Iranian government television broadcast a documentary called "Horror". The main content of this documentary was related to the reaction about Ruhollah Zam's arrest in the opposition group's TV channels. It has been said before that Mr. Zam will explain his arrest on television. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='28201'> <reference source='https://iranwire.com/fa/features/33723'> Mr. Zam had been in contact with a man who identified himself as an Iranian investor in the days before his trip to Iraq, Latif Zamani, Ruhollah Zam's lawyer, told IranWire. He told Ruhollah Zam that he wanted to invest in Britain, and Mr. Zam introduced him to his lawyer for advice. Latif Zamani believes that this was not unrelated to the arrest of Mr. Zam. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='28195'> "The National Security Commission has not been notified of the case yet. Officials will report to the National Security Commission when they arrive.", MP Mohammad Javad Jamali Nobandegani told Etemadonline. Mentioning some rumors about an accident that happened to Zam in prison, he stressed: I heard this rumor, they need to take care of Zam because it is important to clarify some issues by him. Certainly, our security officials must learn from the case of Kavous Seyed-Emami and not let anything happen to Zam. In addition to security issues, it is important to protect accused safety. If anything had happened to Zam, it would have been announced by now. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='28196'> MP Mohammad Javad Abtahi told the "Sobhshod" website that Ruhollah Zam is safe and has not committed suicide.The "documentary" related to him was not broadcasted on TV because his information is still being evaluated. Currently, some have been banned from leaving the country or are being monitored in connection with the case.Ruhollah Zam's case was not an easy one, and about 100 people worked to make it successful. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='30409'> Tehran Prosecutor Ali al-Qasi announced that an indictment had been issued for him. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='28969'> <reference source='https://www.radiozamaneh.com/j_post_status/%d9%82%d8%a7%d8%b6%db%8c-%d8%b5%d9%84%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%aa%db%8c-%d8%b1%db%8c%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%aa-%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%af%da%af%d8%a7%d9%87-%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%ad%e2%80%8c%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%84%d9%87-%d8%b2%d9%85'> The trial will be held at Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, presided over by Judge Salavati. Probably the court will be held open. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='30408'> "His case has five other detainees besides the main defendant, and some have been summoned.", Iran's judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili told Tehran Radio. He added: > We have separated the case of Ruhollah Zam, and other people's cases will be heard over time. He said the other defendants are from different backgrounds. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='30414'> <reference source='https://ipa.united4iran.org/media/file_evidence/%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%87_%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84.pdf'> Judge Salavati referred to arresting 15 people related to Amadnews in 2017 and said: > A case was filed in 2017 regarding Ruhollah Zam's activities, along with 15 other defendants. I ask the prosecutor's representative to read it. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='29087'> <reference source='https://t.me/farsna/180954'> Iranian media related to the government published a 50-minute documentary video titled "prowl in the fog". In the video, Ruhollah Zam is attributed to foreign intelligence services. The video also claims that he was specifically working for the French intelligence service. However, the video states that he has received a total of fewer than 100,000 euros for his activities at Amdennews. Many believe that the IRGC's intelligence system is contradicting in this video. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='29042'> <reference source='https://ipa.united4iran.org/media/file_evidence/%D8%AC%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%87_%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84.pdf'> The first trial of Ruhollah Zam was held at the Revolutionary Court of Tehran. Mr. Zam has been faced with 16 charges by the state and several private suits by natural and legal persons: Committing “Corruption on Earth,” Founding and leadership of the Telegram Channels “Amad News” and “Sedaye Mardom,” Espionage on behalf of the Israeli Intelligence Service through aid from a neighboring country, Espionage on behalf of the French Intelligence Service, Cooperation with the “hostile” US government against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Assembly and Collusion against National Security, Propagating against the Islamic Republic of Iran and advocating for groups opposed to the state, Leadership of, and membership in, the website “Saham News” with the goal of disrupting National Security, Encouraging the citizenry to engage in violence in order to disrupt National Security, Cooperation in gathering classified information to be distributed with the purpose of disrupting National Security, Widespread publication of falsehoods, Encouraging members of the armed forces to flee, surrender, or reject military obligations, Blasphemy against Islamic principles, Insulting the Founder of the Islamic Republic Rouhollah Khomeini and the current Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Insulting government employees, Felonious acquisition of money adding up to 97,550€, and Individual legal complaints by natural and legal persons. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='29160'> <reference source='https://iranwire.com/fa/jinac/36449'> Reporters Without Borders organization has issued a statement expressing concern over allegations made against Ruhollah Zam. A part of the statement states that he could be sentenced to death with at least two charges alleged to him. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='30412'> <reference source='https://tinyurl.com/y9gb2qze'> Rouhollah Zam in his second court hearing (in February 2020) said that he was not one of the Amad News' admins duration of the nationwide protests in December 2017. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='29145'> <reference source='https://t.me/dw_farsi/41601'> The second trial of Ruhollah Zam’s cae was held. Mr. Zam refused the allegations of "efsad-e fel arz (sowing corruption on earth) in his defense. When Judge Salavati described the United States as a "hostile" country, Ruhollah Zam replied: > Of course, the United States is not a hostile country. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='29879'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/346plin'> Mohammad Ali Zam, the father of Ruhollah Zam, pointed to the restrictions imposed on his son in an interview with Ensaf News. According to the interview, Rouhollah Zam has been deprived of having access to phones and visitors since his arrest. "Her two daughters have not heard from him for almost six months, and the rest of my family is still worried and unaware of his situation," Mohammad Ali Zam told Ensaf News. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='30401'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/2L00S5A'> The fourth trial for Ruhollah Zam was held. Mr. Zam rejected some of the charges, including "acting against national security" and "destroying and disrupting the economic system," and said he was a journalist. In response to a question from the prosecutor's representative regarding the invitation of people to "violent" behaviors, he said: “I used some phrases wrongly.” Regarding some reports published in Amadnews, such as training on making the Molotov cocktail, he said: Some of the reports published in Amadnews were copied, and also I was not in charge in a period. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='30919'> <reference source='https://tinyurl.com/ybx6fs5v'> The fifth trial of Amadnews case was held in Branch 15 of Tehran Revolutionary Court. Another defendant was in court. "Hengameh Shahidi's connection with Amadnews" and "making a missile to attack the IRGC's base" has been mentioned in this trial. Judge Salavati claimed that Hengameh Shahidi had "confessed to working directly with Amadnews and had been one of the site's editors for some time." Mr. Zam "confirmed Hengameh Shahidi's collaboration with Amadnews but he said that she was not the editor." "Hengameh Shahidi said the French police gave Mr. Zam a gun," the judge told Mr. Zam, referring to what was alleged to be Mrs. Shahidi's statements. "I took money from her once," Ruhollah Zam said in response to a judge's question about borrowing money from Hengameh Shahidi. Tavana Mohammadi, another defendant in the case, was introduced as "Amadnews Technical Director". He said: > I had a close relationship with Ruhollah, I had his bank and social accounts. Mr. Tavana added: > The Sunni Kalameh TV had deposited $ 4,000 in Zam's account." Amin Vaziri, the prosecutor who is observing political prisoners, claimed that "he had produced a missile to attack the IRGC's base by presenting a video of the conversation attributed to Mr. Zam. Tavana Mohammadi also confirmed the claim and said: > I was taking orders from Mr. Zam. I was supposed to receive $ 500,000 in the first phase and $ 2 million for each similar operation of building missiles and targeting IRGC centers. "They wanted to meet me several times, and they were supposed to pay me 20,000 euros a month," Mr. Zam said, referring to requests from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.The court also referred to Saghar Kasraei's case. According to the Iranian judiciary, "Ruhollah Zam intended to receive funds from the US government for business purposes through Mrs. Kasraei." "Kasraei is close to the US Congress and she is responsible for trying to overthrow the Iranian government , Court officials stated based on the alleged contents of Saghar Kasaei. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='30970'> <reference source='https://ipa.united4iran.org/media/file_evidence/%D8%B2%D9%85__%D9%BE%D8%B4%DB%8C%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%85_%DB%8C%DA%A9_%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%B4_%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%A8%D8%AA%D9%85_%D8%B1%D8%A7_%D8%A8%D9%87_%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF_%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF.pdf'> No new allegations or evidence discussed in the last hearing of Ruhollah Zam's case. Mr. Zam's lawyer has denied allegations of "insulting Islam". His lawyer said that Ruhollah Zam had accepted some of the charges while expressing remorse and asked the court to issue the verdict under Islamic compassion guidelines. "Some of my actions were wrong and I regret it," Mr Zam said in his defense. Ruhollah Zam continued: > I hope that the verdict will not throw me to another wrong path." Some activists believe that Mr. Zam's last words may have been a "threat to disclosure." It should be noted that Mr. Zam referred to the requests of Saudi Arabia again in this meeting. In the part of his "confession", he mentioned the proposal to establish a television station with the financial support of "Adel Al-Jubeir (former Saudi Foreign Minister). </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='31344'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/AmnestyIran/status/1277906782782992385?s=20'> Ruhollah Zam was sentenced to death by Branch 15 of Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Salavati. According to the media outlets close to the Iranian government quoted the Judiciary's spokesman, Mr. Zam was also sentenced to prison in addition to the death penalty. At least 13 of his activities were the examples of "corruption on earth". If the case of confirming the sentence, the death penalty will be the only applicable sentence under Article 132 of the Islamic Penal Code. The other defendants' sentences, including Tavana Mohammadi, have not been determined yet. Hours later, the Amnesty organization complained about Mr. Zam's sentence on social media. Amnesty noted that such a ruling is contrary to Iran's international obligations. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='31418'> A French Foreign Ministry spokesman condemned the death sentence issued for Ruhollah Zam. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='31398'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/مهرانگیز-کار-حتی-با-تعریف-خمینی-هم-روح/'> IPA had a conversation with Mehrangiz Kar, a lawyer, and human rights activist, about the case of Ruhollah Zam. The main point discussed in this conversation was the religious jurists' opposite thoughts on the death sentence for such a case. "Mr. Zam's sentence is not consonant with the Islamic republic's law and even with the "corruptor on earth" definition of Mr. Khomeini and some other jurists.", Mehrangiz Kar told IPA researcher. She believes that Zam's death sentence has no legal basis because the death sentence will be issued if corruption on earth is accompanied by moharebeh. In 2013, the charge of "corruption on earth" was separated from "Moharebeh"; Ms. Kar believes this happened to facilitate the issuance of the death sentence. In jurisprudential opinion, the death sentence will be issued by committing these two charges together, but with changing the law in 2013, these two charges have taken a separate path. Article 286 of the Islamic Penal Code does not provide a specific definition of "corruptor on earth" and generally mentioned that "If a person commits widespread acts against the national security and disrupts the public order, he will be sentenced to death on the charge of corruption on earth." Security attention was raised, shortly after Amadnews created. Security attention was raised, shortly after Amadnews created, and the Islamic Republic was discussing it outrightly. It shows that the main reason for Zam's arrest was media activities. "A Journalist can't be accused of corruption on earth," Mehrangiz Kar said. She added: > The most important stage of the trial is an investigation. If the accused have no defense attorney during the investigation, whatever arises in court will be unfair. She also pointed to countries such as Iraq and Turkey that have a history of cooperation with Iran in extradition of political dissidents. “We should not overlook the countries that play a role in killing political activists. Human rights organizations must hold Turkey and Iraq responsible. We need to have a dialogue with governments that are cooperating with Iran to eliminate political dissidents.”, she said. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='31417'> <reference source='https://rsf.org/persan/news/مجازات-اعدام-برای-روح%E2%80%8Cالله-زم-مدیر-آمدنیوز-حکمی-غیر-قابل-پذیرش-در-دادگاهی-ناعادلانه-'> Reporters Without Borders issued a statement calling the death sentence for Ruhollah Zam unacceptable and demanded the annulment of this sentence. "Judge Salavati has been an executioner for journalists and bloggers for many years," the reporters without borders described Judge Salavati in the statement. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='31419'> Part of the defense statement of Mr. Zam's court-appointed lawyer was published by Mohammad Ali Zam (his father). "There were two officers present in my meeting with my client, and my client's rights have been violated according to the Islamic Republic's law.", The court-appointed lawyer told Judge Salavati. Mohammad Ali Zam has protested the violation of his son's basic rights, such as accessing to a lawyer and the right to contact his family. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='31494'> <reference source='http://www.isna.ir/news/99041813719/%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B6-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%B2%D9%85-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%AD%DA%A9%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85'> "I protested the verdict, and the case will be sent to the Supreme Court.", Dabir Daryabeigi, Ruhollah Zam's lawyer, told ISNA. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='31533'> <reference source='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MeixN0EHkY'> Ruhollah Zam's "Forced Confessions" was broadcast on the 20:30 program "Without Compliments". Kavous Seyed Emami's wife had introduced Ali Rezvani (host of the show) as an interrogator. According to many people who have a history of interrogation in the Iranian security agencies, Ali Rezvani's behavior is more like interrogators than journalists. "I was a reformist until 2009, but since January 2018, I have changed and attempted to change the government.", Ruhollah Zam said about his political attitude. The program has also mentioned Amadnews telegram post about making "Molotov cocktails". Ali Rezvani used the word "riots" in the middle of this discussion, and Ruhollah Zam replied: > Of course you say riots, we call it protests." This conversation was widely criticized on social media. Ali Rezvani somehow blamed Ruhollah Zam for the damages caused, such as the arsons and killing of people. In the end, Ali Rezvani asked Ruhollah Zam to express his opinion about the Islamic Republic. "Of course, my current opinion is completely different from the past. , he replied. According to the Islamic republic's security agencies' background in obtaining forced confessions, the content of this program can not be Evaluated. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32088'> <reference source='http://sahamnews.org/2020/08/311745/'> Hassan Fereshtian, Rouhollah Zam's lawyer in France and a scholar in religious studies, has released some information about how Zam was tricked into traveling to Iraq. As said by Mr. Fereshtian, "The Shiite Marja's name was misused in Rouhollah Zam's arrest." During the first days of Mr. Zam's detention, one would often hear the name of Ali Sistani, a well-known Shiite Marja. Mr. Sistani's office, however, has declared any connection with the incident to be entirely untrue. The information released by Mr. Fereshtian shows that the IRGC had used Mr. Sistani’s name without informing him: “ Rouhollah had a meeting with me 22 hours before he was detained and talked to me about his meeting with Ayatollah Sistani and his support for the establishment of a television station.”Hassan Fereshtian had, in a friendly way and at times angrily, warned Rouhollah Zam about this security trick: “This is a trap! Does Mr. Sistani belong to the opposition? How can you believe his willingness to support this TV station’s activities?” One of my companions went to Iraq two weeks ago to look into the situation and has told me there’s nothing to worry about”, Zam told his lawyer to reassure him that it would be safe for him to go. According to the available information, the person mentioned above might have been Shirin Najafi, one of Amad News’ missing operators. Hassan Fereshtian referred to the charge of “acquisition of property against sharia law” in Mr. Zam’s case. “Receiving financial aid from the French government is an instance of this charge. Such grants are available to people with specific conditions, for example, unemployed people.” The financial help he has received over the course of seven years has been equal to the sum the Islamic Republic has announced (under the title of unlawful property). This lawyer has relied on this fact to express his opinion. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33255'> <reference source='https://united4iran.org/en/15prisoners'> United for Iran published the fact patterns and legal analyses of Ruhollah Zam's case, taking into consideration human rights and fair trial violations based on international treaties to which the IRI is a signatory. The Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) has been used as the lead document for this context. United for Iran has published similar fact patterns for 14 other political prisoners, including prisoners of conscience, and has called on UN institutions to use these resources to file cases and follow up on their situations </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32217'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2020/hranews/a-26328/'> Gholam Hossein Esmaili referred to the case of Rouhollah Zam in a press conference: “We are waiting for the Supreme Court to announce its decision.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='32577'> <reference source='https://t.me/bbcpersian/78684'> Ahmad Mortazavi Moghaddam, the head of Iran’s Supreme Court, said, on the sidelines of the Supreme Court’s general assembly’s meeting on the case of Rouhollah Zam: “ The verdict has been reached and will be pronounced soon.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='34637'> In an interview with the BCC, a close friend of Shirin Najafi claimed that she was already in Iran at the time of Mr. Zam's “abduction”, and that all her conversations and interviews ever since have taken place in an IRGC Intelligence room. </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33054'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2020/hranews/a-26993/'> According to HRANA, today, several months since the end of the investigations into the case, and over three months since the verdict was reached, Rouhollah Zam is still being kept in solitary confinement at the intelligence unit of IRGC. Furthermore, no decision has been pronounced yet, although Mr. Zam's case has been sent to the Supreme Court, and the head of the Supreme Court has claimed that the final decision has already been taken. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33173'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/RSF_persan/status/1318529563497037824?s=20'> Reporters Without Borders posted a tweet on Twitter calling on the United Nations to intervene in Rouhollah Zam’s case. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33795'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/RSF_persan/status/1336301790527168512'> Reporters Without Borders condemned the confirmation of Rouhollah Zam's death sentence, arguing that this verdict was arrived at and confirmed unfairly and in violation of his most basic rights. The organization called for the sentence to be overturned. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33810'> <reference source='https://t.me/farsna/211421'> New Documentary, Same Old Claims A new documentary telling the same old stories with almost nothing new added to the content was aired on The Islamic Republic of Iran's television. In this documentary, Rouhollah Zam, this time in a different place, writes the names of some media outlets, political activists, and human rights activists on a whiteboard. Some time after the documentary had been aired, it came to light that the video had been recorded and published by the Intelligence Protection agents of the Judicial System of Iran. They had tricked him by saying, “We are recording this video for Raisi (Chief Justice of the Judicial System of Iran), and he is planning on exchanging you for one of our prisoners abroad. ”The agents had told me the video was not going to be published and was only recorded for Ebrahim Raisi.” Mohammad Ali Zam quoted his son, Rouhollah Zam. In this video, like in all other similar situations, the narrator describes him as “an influential figure” of the western and Israili intelligence organizations. The video shows Rouhollah Zam writing the names of many Iranian political figures on the board. He then continues, “Amad News was the coordinator and at the top of all the political and media currents against the Iranian state.” It is clear with no need for analysis that this claim is not true, as a large portion of the political currents have even been highly critical of Ahmad News’ performance and cannot have cooperated with it. In the mentioned video, the narrator accuses Mr. Zam of being in contact with a person named “Murad,” who has been identified and introduced as a Mossad intelligence officer by Iranian security forces; but informed sources have reported to Atlas: “Murad is Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization and active in Iran-related matters.” The Judicial System’s security apparatus has described “ Zam and Murad’s cooperation” as follows: “ in this project, Zam has had the task of revealing the identities of those involved in circumventing the sanctions.” The influence of Rouhollah Zam in the nationwide protests of December 2017 is the next thing mentioned in the video. The evidence gathered and research done by Atlas show that Mr. Zam, in cooperation with the protesters on the streets, reported on the current situation in some critical areas and, in a few cases, taught them how to deal with the suppressive forces. However, the Islamic Republic has a different claim; It claims that Rouhollah Zam acted in these circumstances as a "spy agent" and not an activist or a person opposed to the Iranian government. Considering the Islamic Republic's approach to a case like this and Mr. Zam's lack of access to a fair trial, Atlas denies a great deal of the allegations against Rouhollah Zam. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33752'> <reference source='https://t.me/yjcnewschannel/176348'> Rouhollah Zam’s Death Sentence Has Been Confirmed. “The Supreme Court handled the case over a month ago, and his death sentence has been confirmed,” said Gholam Hossein Esmaili, the spokesman of Judicial System of Iran, in a press conference on Rouhollah Zam’s case. The Chief Justice of Iran had also mentioned, in the second half of September, that the verdict had been reached and was going to be pronounced soon. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33769'> <reference source='https://t.me/Amnesty_International/1819'> Amnesty International's Response to The Death Sentence; The Application of Death Sentence in His Case Is More of a Weapon for Suppression. Amnesty International has published a statement condemning the pronouncement of the death penalty for Rouhollah Zam. This human rights organization calls this move "a weapon for suppression." The impact of international reactions on overturning this sentence has been referred to at the end of the statement: > Urgent action, by the European Union, for instance, is needed to ensure that the Iranian authorities repeal this cruel sentence. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33768'> <reference source='https://prisonatlas.com/%d8%b3%d8%a7%d8%b2%d9%85%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%a7%d8%aa%d8%ad%d8%a7%d8%af-%d8%a8%d8%b1%d8%a7%db%8c-%d8%a7%db%8c%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%ad%da%a9%d9%85-%d8%a7%d8%b9%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%85-%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%ad/'> The Death Sentence Is Unfair and Must Be Overturned Without Hesitation. United for Iran has condemned Rouhollah Zam’s death sentence by publishing a statement calling for the unjust sentence to be overturned. Here is a part of the message: “The cruel punishment determined for Mr. Zam violates the rights to freedom of the press and freedom of expression. This unfair sentence is another attempt by the Iranian government to silence the opposing voices.” At the end of the statement, United for Iran has called for the immediate reversal of the sentence, citing Iran’s international obligations: “ This sentence is a clear instance of violating human rights as well as the obligations of the Iranian government under the UN’s International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We, therefore, urge the Iranian government to stop proceeding with this cruel death sentence.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33812'> <reference source='https://t.me/bbcpersian/87613'> The Person Seen in the Documentary “The Final Station of Lies” Is Imprisoned in Evin. Mehdi Mahmoudian, a journalist from Tehran, told the BBC: > The person seen in The Final Station of Lies documentary is now being kept in Evin Prison with a custodial sentence of 15 years in prison." This person was identified as an insider and described as an infiltrator by the security forces; And although he appears to have been a former member of the security forces, it shows that some of the Islamic Republic's claims of infiltrating Amad News, or at least the details presented by the security apparatus, cannot be true. He possibly fell into the trap of the intelligence forces after cooperating with Rouhollah Zam for some time and was forced to cooperate with the security system from then on. "I obtained the information through the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC and sent it to Rouhollah," he said during a private discussion with Mr. Mahmoudian at Evin Prison. The mentioned information is linked to the controversial news published by Amad News, such as "the Qur'an reciter Saeed Tusi's rape of his students, 63 bank accounts belonging to the Judicial System of Iran, spying accusations against the daughter of the Chief Justice of Iran, etc. Mr. Mahmoudian condemned Rouhollah Zam's death sentence and called it an attack on freedom of expression. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33811'> <reference source='https://t.me/bbcpersian/87609'> Reporters Without Borders has condemned Ruhollah Zam's execution and stated: > Zam was executed on the orders of Ali Khamenei. Reza Moeini, head of the Iran-Afghanistan office of Reporters Without Borders, said in an interview with the BBC: > The Islamic Republic of Iran is the only regime that has passed a death sentence for a journalist in the last 50 years." He believes that the Islamic Republic of Iran has been the "enemy" of journalists since the very first days after the Islamic Revolution. Reza Moeini referred to the lack of enough contribution to the case by human rights organizations: > On October 24, 2020, we wrote a letter to Michelle Bachelet (Un High Commissioner for Human Rights) and Javaid Rehman (Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran) informing them that Mr. Zam's death sentence had been confirmed and that he was on death row, but they did not do enough to help. According to the information provided by Mr. Moeini, Rouhollah Zam's death sentence had been pronounced on October 22, 2020. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33802'> <reference source='https://www.instagram.com/p/CIsOGM_hYiu/'> Rouhollah Zam Was Not Informed of His Execution Date Shortly after the news of his son's execution had been released, Mohammad Ali Zam wrote of his family members' last meeting with him in an Instagram post. He referred to the fact that not only had security officials hidden the news of the confirmation of the death sentence from his son, but also they had not informed his family of the execution date. Rouhollah Zam had also stated in the meeting that during the Judicial System's interrogations, he had been told that the Chief Justice, Ebrahim Raisi, intended to engage him in an "exchange plan" and exchange him for someone "on the other side." In order to be a part of the exchange plan, he was forced to speak, in front of the camera, of receiving funds from foreign countries as well as spying on and disclosing the location of Qasem Soleimani, former commander of the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the IRGC. The film, entitled "Confessions," was aired by the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting. He had also told his father, regarding the groundless allegations stating he had received money from foreign governments, that the security agents possessed a printout of a "bank statement showing all deposits made into his bank account" right from 2011 onwards; And as recorded in the indictment, the total sum of all deposits ever made into his account was 97 thousand and 500 dollars (97500 USD). According to Mr. Zam's relatives and close ones, most of the money was transferred to his account by the French government for living expenses as a political refugee. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33827'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/bbcpersian/status/1337831435969978368?s=20'> Hassan Fereshtian, Zam family's lawyer in France, told BBC in an interview: > Rouhollah Zam's execution was not right even in terms of the Islamic Republic's legal norms and Islamic laws." He also mentioned, "The information published by Amad News was sent to Zam by the security forces and with the intentions of the government itself. He described part of Zam's detention as follows: > Not long ago, an agent who had tried to appear supportive had taken Zam to a restaurant and told him, take this colt and shoot me. Then rush to the border of Kurdistan and flee from there." "They must have intended to denigrate Rouhollah Zam with this plan, but he did not accept the suggestion, remarked Mr. Fereshtian with regards to this attempt by the IRGC interrogators. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33828'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/37l6VO9'> The public relations department of Tehran General and Revolutionary Court has published a statement in response to the issue of Zam's exchange for an Iranian prisoner in western countries, a topic raised during the period of Zam's interrogations. "The subject of exchanging Mr. Zam for an Iranian prisoner abroad has never been raised." But some representatives from the Ministry of Intelligence, IRGC Intelligence, and the Judicial System had gathered for a meeting with Mohammad Ali Zam, and the subject mentioned above had been one of the topics referred to during the session. It should be noted that the statement also refers to the cases of other Amad News defendants: > The cases of some of Zam's connections in Iran have been sent to the court along with an indictment, and some other cases are still open at the prosecutor's office. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33824'> <reference source='https://www.instagram.com/p/CIwUPBihMvh/?igshid=1ofqv4rsmvxs0'> Mohammad Ali Zam, Rouholah Zam's father, wrote a note condemning the fact that his son had not been notified of the confirmation of his sentence and his execution date; And had not been even allowed to write a will. He called the perpetrators of this sentence "murderers" or actually "corrupt transgressors." Mr. Zam's family had been told a day before his execution, "Rouhollah is going to be transferred to the general ward soon." Neither Mr. Zam nor his family was aware of the plans made for the execution to be carried out before it happened. Mr. Zam was deprived of the right to a retrial, which was another issue his father mentioned in his note. It should be noted the matters referred to in this note by Mohammad Ali Zam are all considered in the domestic law as the rights of those sentenced to death. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33809'> <reference source='https://www.hra-news.org/2020/hranews/a-27852/'> Several Human Rights Violators Were Present at the Execution Site. Yesterday, a few hours after Rouhollah Zam's execution, Hrana reported that his execution had been carried out in Rajai Shahr Prison (Gohar Dasht) in the presence of a number of security and judicial forces figures. Amin Vaziri, the prosecuting attorney who supervises political prisoners, and "Raouf", an interrogator at Sar-Allah headquarters, were among those present. Mr. Zam spent his final days in Ward One Alef (One A) of Sar-Allah IRGC headquarters. It should be noted that Mr. Zam was not notified of confirmation of the death sentence by the Supreme Court and went on a hunger and thirst strike as soon as he realized or at least suspected that the execution was going to be carried out and was still on hunger strike at the time of execution. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33815'> <reference source='https://www.instagram.com/p/CIyoZa2BJQy/?igshid=oipw9pae0b78'> Mohammad Amjad, a theologian seminary instructor, and the son of Mahmoud Amad (a Shi'i theologian) criticized the Iranian government's actions and announced on his Instagram page that his father calls for entitling Rouhollah Zam a "martyr" and that his father, Mahmoud Amjad, would appear in an Instagram live the next day to speak about this issue. "My father, Mahmoud Amjad, will go live on Instagram tomorrow evening. He has asked me to inform all faithfully religious citizens that they should call the murdered Rouhollah a martyr." </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33813'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/37iilSJ'> Mizan website has published a report claiming Ardeshir Amir Arjomand, Mirhossein Mousavi's advisor, and Taghi Karoubi, a political activist, were the "figures predisposing Zam's execution." The Islamic Republic of Iran, which seeks to conceal the state's role in suppressing the freedom of expression, has a long history of such claims. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33826'> <reference source='https://t.me/Tasnimnews/179160'> "The verdict had been handed down by an independent court.", said Hassan Rouhani, the Iranian President, addressing the European authorities, in response to Zam's execution. The evidence shows that this claim is not valid. In a part of his speech, he states that he is "surprised" by the degree of the Europeans’ attention to this case and continues: > I doubt that this issue should have an impact on Iran-Europe relations. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33823'> <reference source='https://t.me/IranintlTV/70271'> Patrick Wintour, the Guardian journalist chosen to host the Iran-Europe business convention, said in an interview with Iran International: > Because of the murder of my journalist colleague, I'm not going to attend this conference. It should be noted that the European Union has also postponed the meeting. The reason appears to be the execution of Rouhollah Zam. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33818'> According to Iran Prison Atlas, judge Mohammad Reza Amouzad was among the ones who ordered Rouhollah Zam's execution. Based on Atlas' investigations, he has sentenced four political prisoners to death over a four-month period; "Rouhollah Zam, Amir Hossein Moradi, Saeed Tamjidi, and Mohammad Rajabi." </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33816'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/34dAeQK'> A letter condemning Rouhollah Zam's execution was signed by 126 political, social, and human rights activists and then published. It is stated in a part of the letter: > Execution, Suppression, and torture will not cure the slightest of the pains the society suffers from. The letter, then, refers to the fact that a change in the government policies is the only solution to the problems of the nation: > The path toward the salvation of the Iranian society is nothing but a serious revision of these policies, deep and structural reforms, the recognition of national dissidents and critics, and paving the way for dialogue within the framework of the national interests. Narges Mohammadi, Parvaneh Salahshouri, Abolfazl Ghadyani, Mahmoud Beheshti Langroudi, Ali Reza Rajai, Hashem Aghajari, Mostafa Tajzadeh, Khosro Delir Sani, and Parvin Fahimi are among the ones who have signed this letter. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33822'> <reference source='https://www.instagram.com/tv/CI1KmZNq88M/?igshid=2a402o8hk9bs'> Mahmoud Amjad, a prominent and respected Shi'i cleric, called Rouhollah Zam a "martyr" and referred to Ali Khamenei's role in suppressing the freedom of expression and eliminating the dissidents: > Mr. Khamenei has been the one responsible for all killings since 2009. In another part of the speech, he criticized Ali Sistani, a Shi'i cleric living in Iraq: > Mr. Sistani's silence on this case is not moral. It should be noted that Rouhollah Zam had been tricked into traveling to Iraq with the promise of a work meeting with Mr. Sistani. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='33817'> <reference source='https://www.instagram.com/p/CI0CXXnhbP4/?igshid=1wz4vjsjeno4u'> Mohammad Ali Zam, Rouhollah Zam's father, criticized the Chief Justice of Iran for using the name "Nima" for his son. Nima was the name chosen by the security apparatus for Rouhollah Zam. As the name, Rouhollah is derived from the name of the founder of the Islamic Republic, and the extremists who support the state believe this name has a "special sanctity" to it, they had changed Rouhollah Zam's name to Nima Zam in some video reports. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='34126'> <reference source='http://bit.ly/3ni3zjO'> Speaking in a press conference, Judiciary’s Spokesperson Qolamhossein Esmayili said that Ruhollah Zam’s case involved more than one person and the case has wide-ranging dimensions. were expected to come out of it. He also confirmed Shirin Najafi’s arrest, adding that she was already sentenced and her case was now in the appeals stage. Esmayili stated: “Six more people were charged in this case and their sentences have also been issued. They have been sentenced to between two and 10 years in prison.” he added. However, he did not name these people, the charges against them, or any evidence for their alleged crimes. According to Esmayili, one more person will be tried next week in relation to this case while there are others charged in the case who are not yet in custody. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='34636'> <reference source='https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-features-55545754'> In an interview with the BCC, a close friend of Shirin Najafi claimed that she was already in Iran at the time of Mr. Zam's “abduction”, and that all her conversations and interviews ever since have taken place in an IRGC Intelligence room. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='34287'> <reference source='https://t.me/sahamnewsorg/51273'> The mourning ceremony for Ruhollah Zam, traditionally held on the 40th day after his death, was held near his grave in the Paradise of Zahra cemetery. His father, Mohammad Ali Zam, spoke at the event: “Authorities lied to him. They said the execution order was not confirmed and even if it was confirmed, there would be many legal ways out.” Hisfather also recounted some of Zam’s last words to his family: “I have no fear of execution. I have come to this path for God and with God’s permission; I even sought counsel from the Quran via Istikhara (Quranic divination) before I committed to this path.” </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>