A Lawyer Tried On Political Charges In Arak

HRANA News Agency – Mohammad Najafi, an attorney, was prosecuted by the Disciplinary Attorney of Bar Association of Arak city with political-security charges and went on trial on Wednesday 6th January 2016.

According to the report of Human Rights Activists News Agency in Iran (HRANA), the Disciplinary Attorney of Bar Association of Markazi province (Arak) had prosecuted Mr Mohammad Najafi with a collection of political charges citing complaint of an unidentified citizen.

“Attending in illegal sit-in of Nasrin Sotoudeh”, “sympathy with Nasrin Sotoudeh and Norizad”, blogging and writing critical articles on Facebook were a part of issues that had been raised in this case.

Nasrin Sotoudeh, one of Mr Najafi’s lawyers, said the Lawyers Disciplinary Court could not put a lawyer directly on trial with political and security charges. It could only enter in such matters that previously a righteous court had already ruled on such charges and convicted the lawyer.

The initial complainant as “Signature reserved” introduced themselves as “a person of the society” and claimed that Mohammad Najafi provides youth aberrant by “pleasing enemy” activities.

Mrs Sotoudeh also expressed hope that due to the illegal nature of the complaint and entering the Lawyers Disciplinary Attorney in this case, Bar Association of Disciplinary Court could make a proper decision on this case.

Except Nasrin Sotoudeh, Arash Keykhosravi and Payam Dorafshan have also taken Mohammad Najafi’s advocacy. On Wednesday this case was addressed in the Third branch of the Bar Association Disciplinary Court of Markazi Province.