An Iranian economics journalist whose work scrutinizing the country's free trade zones resulted in multiple judicial summonses has suffered a stroke, sources familiar with her health told Iran International.
Marziya Hosseini lost part of her short-term memory after the stroke and remains hospitalized, they added.
Despite her condition, judicial authorities issued a new summons dated October 26, giving her five days to report to the Qeshm Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor's Office on a Persian Gulf island that was the subject of her investigations.
Charges include "slander, spreading falsehoods, satire and insult to officials and agents."
Hosseini, who has faced prior restrictions from Iran’s security officials, was summoned in June after criticizing President Masoud Pezeshkian's support for Qeshm Free Trade Zone CEO Adel Pighami.
In an X post then, she wrote: "Mr. President, see the result of your support for the corrupt CEO of the Qeshm Free Trade Zone."
She accused Pighami of embezzling public funds and holding back progress at the Qeshm free zone, adding that exposing corruption prompted complaints and threats against her rather than accountability for the issues she rasied.
The Qeshm Free Trade Zone, a key economic hub in southern Iran, has long been plagued by corruption allegations including Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) linked monopolies and tax evasion through shell companies.
In 2015, the Iranian government confiscated Qeshm Airlines from its owner Babak Zanjani over bribery charges and unpaid oil debts.
Hosseini's ordeal highlights an intensifying crackdown on press freedom under President Pezeshkian.
A November 2024 report by the watchdog group Defending Free Flow of Information Organization documented 78 judicial and security actions against media outlets and journalists in his first 100 days, marking an uptick in efforts to squelch free media.
