Hossein Shanbezadeh

Hossein Shanbezadeh is an editor and Twitter activist living in Tehran. He was active on Twitter for many years under the nickname "Unicorn Editor" and was finally arrested by intelligence agents and sentenced to prison in 2020. Hossein Shanbezadeh was arrested again in June 2024.

• <coverage-outsourcing id='40565'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/hosseyn1988/status/1542394697078939648?s=20&t=OmGXeArI8K24xQ7c7qamzw'> Hossein Shanbezadeh was arrested by intelligence officers. Three years later, when he was on his way to prison to serve his sentence he published those court documents on Twitter and informed about the case that was opened for him in 2019. He wrote on his Twitter that he was arrested three years ago and was imprisoned in Evin prison for some time. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='40567'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3aAmExb'> According to the document published by Hossein Shanbezadeh on his Twitter account, Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced him to prison. This document shows that Mr. Shanbezadeh was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison on the charge of sacrilege, 18 months on the charge of insulting Ali Khamenei, and 10 months on the charge of propaganda against the system. Based on Article 134 of the Criminal Code, the amount of 3 years and 6 months of his imprisonment is enforceable. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='40568'> <reference source='https://bit.ly/3aAmExb'> Branch 36 of the Court of Appeal of Tehran, headed by Judge Zargar, confirmed the rulings issued by the first court. This information is included in the document that Mr. Shanbezadeh published on his Twitter account and it shows that in addition to Judge Zargar, the judgment of the Court of Appeal was also signed by Abbas Ali Khozan, the branch advisor. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='40569'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/hosseyn1988/status/1542394731996631043?s=20&t=OmGXeArI8K24xQ7c7qamzw'> He went to Evin prison to serve his sentence. Mr. Shanbezadeh published this news on his Twitter account on the way to Evin prison. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='50560'> <reference source='https://twitter.com/hosseyn1988/status/1648297480768090118'> He was released from prison. On February 5th, 2023, the Islamic Republic's Judiciary issued a memo that announced the beginning of the process of releasing some of the protesters arrested during the 2022 national uprising. According to the judiciary's Mizan website, and latest comments made by the spokesperson for the judiciary, this "pardon" is in honor of the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution and contingent on the prisoners expressing regret; The pardon is not extended to cases with charges such as "connection to dissident groups", and "destruction of public property". However, many of the released prisoners have posted videos and notes saying they never requested a pardon and never expressed regret. There are even videos of female activists taking off their hijab and chanting against the Islamic Republic in front of the prison moments after their release. The release of prisoners being called a pardon has caused massive reaction online and some activists on social media and human rights organizations consider it a PR stunt to repair some of the damage to Ali Khamenei's image. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='60660'> <reference source='https://ir.voanews.com/a/update-hossein-shanbehzadeh-political-prisoner/7644309.html'> He was arrested by security forces in Ardebil city. According to Voice of America, Hossein Shanbezadeh was arrested after "two suspicious tweets" were published along with a picture of a "conversation" from his user account on X; According to his relatives, the contents "were most likely published by the security institutions." </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='60661'> <reference source='https://www.bbc.com/persian/articles/cp00jrggzqjo'> The Tasnim news agency, close to the Revolutionary Guards, published a report quoting the Ardabil General and Revolution Prosecutor and claimed that Hossein Shanbezadeh was arrested on the charge of spying for Israel. Jalal Afaghi said that Shanbezadeh was spying for Israel under the guise of editorial work and was receiving money. According to the Ardebil prosecutor, this person was a "fugitive" and "intended to escape from Iran." Abbas, Hossein Shanbezadeh's brother, published the family's statement on X channel and wrote: > The claim of Hossein running away is also not true. He had spoken about his intention to travel to Ardebil on the X channel (formerly Twitter) for a long time, and even an hour before his arrest, he was talking about the city of Ardebil on the same channel and posting pictures of himself. They added: > Attributing serious charges to Hossein less than 24 hours after his arrest, without having the right to communicate with his lawyer and family, is a cause for concern. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='60662'> <reference source='https://tinyurl.com/yc39x3va'> In an interview with ILNA news agency, the prosecutor of Ardebil announced that Hossein Shanbezadeh's case was filed in Tehran's prosecutor's office and he was arrested in Ardebil by judicial order. Jalal Afaghi said Mr. Shanbezadeh's accusations were "espionage for high-ranking Mossad officers" and sacrilege and added: > He planned to leave the country by passing through Ardebil, Bostan Abad and finally going to Urmia. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='60663'> <reference source='https://x.com/McSaturday7/status/1799494591499870301'> The family of Hossein Shanbezadeh announced in a statement that he is in detention in Tehran. In this statement, it is mentioned that Hossein Shanbezadeh had a phone call with his mother and told her: > Let's not fall for the propaganda. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='60664'> <reference source='https://x.com/McSaturday7/status/1802381762120585470'> Abbas Shanbezadeh, Hossein Shanbezadeh's brother, reported Hossein's phone call with his mother and wrote that during the conversation, Hossein repeatedly swore to my mother's honor and told her, "I have not done what they say." </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='61343'> <reference source='https://x.com/McSaturday7/status/1807484772748537907'> Abbas Shanbezadeh, Hossein Shanbezadeh's brother, announced on his X account that his brother said in a phone call that he was transferred from a solitary cell to a multi-person cell. He added: > Since Hossein has not yet been sent to the general ward, we think that he is still in the investigation phase. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>
• <coverage-outsourcing id='61726'> <reference source='https://x.com/McSaturday7/status/1811310426811998623'> Abbas Shanbezadeh announced on his X social network that he and his mother met Hossein and wrote that his arrest order has been extended, but he is allowed visits twice a month. </reference> </coverage-outsourcing>