Iranian University Continues Case Against Journalists Despite Pezeshkian's Directive

The Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences is pursuing a legal complaint against two journalists despite the Iranian president's recent order for government agencies to withdraw complaints against members of the press.

The university complained following a report by journalists Mohammad Yasin Jalalzahi and Sheida Hasanzahi from the Mayarjal news website.

Their report focused on the service conditions in the dialysis department of Khatam Al-Anbiya Hospital in Iranshahr.

The incident escalated when the hospital's security personnel detained Jalalzahi and Hasanzahi, and confiscated their belongings for two days earlier this month.

The journalists' equipment was only returned after this period, raising concerns about the legality of the actions taken by the hospital staff.

Diyar Ayar, a local news outlet in Sistan and Baluchistan province, reported that the legal representative of Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences accused the journalists of "publishing false and insulting material" against both the university and the hospital.

The complaint alleges that their report caused "public concern" and "damaged the social standing of the officials involved in the project."

The confrontation began when Jalalzahi and Hasanzahi attempted to document the conditions in the hospital's dialysis department.

During their work, hospital staff seized the journalists' equipment and physically assaulted them.

This ongoing legal battle comes in the wake of a directive issued on August 7 - Journalist's Day in Iran - by President Masoud Pezeshkian, who called on government agencies to withdraw their complaints against journalists.

Although the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development recently complied with this directive, the case against Jalalzahi and Hasanzahi remains under judicial review.

The International Federation of Journalists also commented on the situation, stating, "Despite the governor's order, the complaint file remains open, and the University of Medical Sciences continues to pursue the case."