According to Iranian news website Mashregh, Hossein Derakhshan, known as Iran’s “blogfather” has been released on a bail of $1.5 million after 26 months in prison. Derakhshan had received a 19-and-a-half year prison sentence, with charges including “implementation and management of obscene websites” and “cooperation with hostile states”. He is expected to return to prison shortly.
An 18-year-old blogger and women’s rights activist arrested last September, has been now put on trial. Navid Mohebbi is charged with acting against national security, insulting the supreme leader, making propaganda against the state and supporting the One Million Signatures women’s rights campaign.“He hasn’t been convicted yet, but I fully expect a lengthy jail sentence. They are afraid of women, of journalists/bloggers and of youth”, Mohebbi’s lawyer stated.
Kareem Amer freed after serving a prison term for insulting Islam and defaming Egypt’s president. Ashraf Khalil reports
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Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman, better known by his blogging name, Kareem Amer, was due to be freed on 5 November after completing a four-year jail sentence for criticising the government. Instead, he has been held illegally for the past five days, and has reportedly received a severe beating from an official at the headquarters of the internal security department in Alexandria. During his sentence, Amer’s letters have chronicled episodes of solitary confinement and torture.