After several relocations between prisons in Tehran and Alborz provinces, Keyvan Samimi, the imprisoned editor of Iran Farda Magazine and a member of the Iranian Writers’ Association, was finally exiled to Semnan Prison.
According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, by the order of the court, Keyvan Samimi was transferred from Rajai Shahr Prison to Semnan Prison.
Initially, he was sent to Karaj Central Penitentiary Prison and thereafter to Rajai Shahr. However, since the Executive Unit of Karaj refused to accept him for reasons unkown, he was ultimately sent to Semnan Prison.
His lawyer, Mostafa Nili stated that during these relocations, Samimi was not allowed to bring his belongings, even medicines, which he needs urgently due to his health.
Samimi has been serving his two year sentence since December 7, 2020.
On May 1, 2019, he attended the workers’ protests on the anniversary of Labour Day before Parliament. The protest turned violent due to the interference of security forces, leading to his arrest along with dozens of other protestors. On May 12, 2019, security forces raided and searched the Iran Farda magazine office and confiscated many documents, including his computer. On June 17, 2019, he finally was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.
On April 20, 2020, in a trial in absentia, Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court of Tehran, sentenced him to three years imprisonment on the charge of “assembly and collusion to act against national security”. The verdict was upheld on appeal but was reduced to two years in the retrial.
Samimi has previously served six years in prison in 2009 for questioning the 2009 Presidential Election, participating in protests, and writing articles critical of the Islamic Regime. His two political activist brothers were executed, one by this regime and the other by the former regime.
