Iranian dissident journalist Keyvan Samimi. Undated
The office of US envoy for Iran has slammed the arrest of journalist Keyvan Samimi, saying that the regime has once again demonstrated how much it fears the people and the truth.
“The act of arresting Mr. Samimi…is a reminder of the degree to which the Iranian regime is incapable of adhering to the most basic international human rights standards and the lengths Iranian authorities will take to silence journalists,” the office of US Special Envoy at the State Department on Friday told the media.
Iran’s state TV announced Thursday that journalist and political activist Keyvan Samimi was once again arrested after his recent release.
The state TV introduced Samimi as an element linked to Mujahedin-e Khalq claiming that he was arrested on charge of "reconnecting with anti-revolutionary groups abroad".
It is not yet known which intelligence outfit arrested the political activist, but Mustafa Nili, a lawyer, wrote in a tweet that even Samimi's son was unaware of his father's arrest.
74-year-old Keyvan Samimi, who is known as the oldest imprisoned journalist in Iran, is the editor-in-chief of "Nameh" magazine. He was released from prison on January 26.
After his release, Samimi supported Green Movement leader Mir-Hossein Mousavi's statement for "holding a free referendum" in Iran and "drafting a new constitution".
Samimi also said in an interview with "Etemad" newspaper that "corruption" in the Islamic Republic began one day after the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979.