A/HRC/28/26 37. While a number of journalists were freed in the latter months of 2014, a large number of journalists remain jailed. National security, espionage, propaganda against the system and insulting the Supreme Leader are some of the chargesfrequently invoked for the arrest and prosecution of journalists. 38. For instance, Serajeddin Mirdamadi, who returned to the Islamic Republic of Iran following the election of President Rouhani, was reportedly sentenced to six years of imprisonment on charges of propaganda against the system and crimes against national security. His sentence was reduced to three years on appeal.23 Jason Rezaian, a journalist with the Washington Post, in detention since July 2014, reportedly had his detention extended for 60 days in November. 24 The authorities reported that Mr. Rezaian was facing espionage charges and that his case was currently being investigated by the Prosecutor’s office. Mr. Rezaian was arrested together with his wife, Yeganeh Salehi, also a journalist. Ms. Yeganeh was, however, released on bail after 60 days in detention.25 In an interview, Dr. Mohammad Javad Larijani stated that Mr. Rezaian had been arrested for his involvement in activities that breached the security of the State.26 The arrest, detention and prosecution of journalists constitute a severe violation of the right to freedom of expression and breach the international obligations of the Islamic Republic of Iran under article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 2. Freedom of assembly 38. On 31 October 2014, in his statement to the Human Rights Council, Dr. Mohammad Javad Larijani reported on the proactive role played by more than 17,000 civil society groups in the Islamic Republic of Iran in the promotion and protection of human rights. He also stated that more than 230 political parties, 400 trade unions and specialized associations, as well as 60 religiously affiliated societies, were active in the country. 39. Human rights defenders, lawyers, students and women rights activists, journalists and trade unionists, however, continue to face restrictions, arrest, conviction and imprisonment for exercising their rights to freedom of association and freedom of expression and opinion. The authorities have not yet lifted the ban on the activities of the Workers’ Union of the Tehran and Suburbs Bus Company, the Sugar Cane Workers’ Union of the Haft Tapeh Sugar Cane Company and the Teachers’ Association. Union activists are often subjected to politically motivated prosecution and unfair trials. More than a dozen activists are currently held in prison for merely exercising their right to peaceful assembly and association. The leaders of the Green Movement, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, and Mehdi Karoubi, have been under house arrest since 2011, with no formal charges ever brought against them, for staging a rally in solidarity with protesters in Egypt. Another worrying development is a new bill, made public early in 2014, on the activities of political parties which, if passed, would prohibit parties from activities until they obtain a permit from a five-member commission comprising representatives of the judiciary, parliament and the Ministry of the Interior (see A/69/356, paras. 38-39). It also requires political parties to notify the Ministry at least 72 hours in advance of any gathering or demonstration. 23 24 25 26 Radiozamaneh news, “Appeal court cuts journalist’s sentence in half”, 30 November 2014. Aljazeera, “Iran extends detention of US journalist”, 4 December 2014. Sherif Mansour, “Jason Rezaian’s family appeals for Iran to release him”, Committee to Protect Journalists, 10 November 2014. Euronews, “Hopes raised that US-Iranian reporter could be out soon”, 6 November 2014. 11