Saman Safarzaei

He was a journalist for a number of publications such as Andisheyepouya, Shahrvand, Goftogoo, and Tarikh Irani. He regularly spoke with foreign analysts and international policy makers and published his material. He is one of the journalists arrested in the "Infiltration" cases and given heavy prison sentences.

<coverage-outsourcing id='6208'> Ayatollah Khamenei warned of the implementation of the "Infiltration Project" following the JCPOA. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6209'> Afarin Chitsaz, Issa Saharkhiz, Saman Safarzai, Ehsan Mazandarani, and Davoud Asadi were arrested by agents of the IRGC's Intelligence Unit on a warrant by Branch 12 of Tehran Court and were transferred to Ward 2A of Evin Prison. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6210'> The IRGC Intelligence Unit issued a statement announcing that during the last week "a few members of the Infiltration Network implemented by western enemy states, who were operating in the media and online" were arrested. On the same day Fars News and Mehr News agencies announced that those arrested were related to an "Infiltration Network". Ebrahim Raeisi called those arrested "American spies and pen-holding mercenaries". In addition to these individuals, other media outlets and officials across the country noted the arrest of this network as well. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6212'> Reporters Without Borders published a harshly-worded statement with regards to the arrests of the journalists : > It is not the first time that journalists in Iran get caught up in the animosities among different political forces in the Islamic Republic. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6211'> Hassan Rouhani spoke at a cabinet meeting on the anniversary of the occupation of the US embassy in Iran, seemingly in response to the IRGC's operation: > Let's not go and arrest a couple of people for no reason, build a case against them, and then say that we have stopped a line of infiltration . </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6213'> According to Jamaran Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Iran's Minister of Justice had expressed optimism in the cases being tried as soon as the case files were completed. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6399'> 90 journalists penned a letter requesting the immediate release of Issa Saharkhiz, Ehsan Mazandarani, Saman Safarzai, and Afarin Chitsaz, four imprisoned journalists. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6214'> Seyyed Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatai, the attorney of three of the arrested individuals, reported to Tasnim News: > There was a conflict regarding the charges between the Prosecutor and Investigator which led to the case being transferred to Ward 15 of Tehran Revolutionary Court for arbitration. In that court, Judge Salavati agreed with the Prosecutor". According to Mr. Tabatai's remarks, the Investigator (Mr. Hassanzadeh), believed that the defendants should be charged with "Propagating against the system", whereas the Prosecutor believed that the defendants' actions warrant them being charged with "Attempts against national security through assembly and collusion and insulting officials in addition to that charge. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6215'> Seyyed Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatai, the attorney for Mazandarani, Saharkhiz, and Asadi, told Tasnim News: > My clients' case has been sent to Branch 28 of Tehran Revolutionary Court following the issuance of their indictments. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6229'> The defendant was probably transferred to Ward 8 of Evin Prison in February 2016. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='5475'> He was tried by Judge Moghiseh in Branch 28 of Tehran Revolutionary Court. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6216'> Mr. Alizadeh Tabatabai participated in an interview with Shargh Newspaper in which he stressed that nobody involved in the case has any news of Afarin Chitsaz's case. He also stated that all of the male defendants in this case are being held in Ward 8 of Evin Prison. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6217'> It was reported that the defendant was sentenced to five years in prison on the charge of "Assembly and collusion against national security". </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6218'> The Reporters Without Borders organization condemned the 22 year sentence that was given to three Iranian journalists. </coverage-outsourcing>
<coverage-outsourcing id='6219'> 230 journalists penned a letter to Hassan Rouhani requesting his attention to the case of those arrested as part of the "Infiltration Network". </coverage-outsourcing>