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{{short description|Iranian activist}}
{{Short description|Iranian journalist and activist (1978–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Expand Persian|topic=bio|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Ruhollah Zam
| name = Ruhollah Zam
| other_names = Nima<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/1154676/نیما-زم-که-بود|title=«نیما زم» که بود؟|date=12 December 2020|website=مشرق نیوز}}</ref>
| other_names = Nima<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mashreghnews.ir/news/1154676/نیما-زم-که-بود|title="نیما زم" که بود؟|date=12 December 2020|website=مشرق نیوز}}</ref>
| image = Ruhollah Zam.jpg
| image =
| occupation = Journalist
| occupation = Journalist
| spouse = Mahsa Razani
| spouse = Mahsa Razani
| children = 2
| children = 2
| parents = Mohammad Ali Zam (father)
| parents = Mohammad Ali Zam (father)
| birth_date = {{birth date|1978|7|27|df=yes}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1978|7|27|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Ray, Iran|Ray]], [[Imperial State of Iran|Iran]]
| birth_place = [[Ray, Iran|Ray]], [[Imperial State of Iran|Iran]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|12|12|1978|7|27|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|12|12|1978|7|27|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Tehran]], [[Iran]]
| death_place = [[Tehran]], Iran
| known_for = Operating [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] channel Amadnews
| known_for = Operating [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] channel [[Amadnews]]
| criminal_charge = [[Espionage]]<br />[[Fasad#Iran|Al-Mufsid fi al-Arḍ]]
| criminal_charge = [[Espionage]]<br />[[Mofsed-e-filarz]]
| criminal_penalty = [[Capital punishment]] by [[hanging]]
| criminal_penalty = [[Capital punishment]] by [[hanging]]
| criminal_status = Executed
| criminal_status = Executed
}}
}}

'''Ruhollah Zam''' ({{lang-fa|روح‌الله زم}}, also [[Romanization|Romanized]] as "Rouhollah Zam"; 27 July 1978{{spnd}}12 December 2020) was an Iranian activist and journalist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50045089|title=Ruhollah Zam: Iran 'arrests exiled journalist' for fanning unrest|publisher=BBC News|date=14 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-exile-telegram-channel-roohollah-zam-bring-down-government/28957053.html|title=Controversial Exile Using Social Media To Try To Bring Down Iranian Government|last=Najibullah|first=Farangis|date=5 January 2018|work=Radio Free Europe|accessdate=8 January 2018}}</ref> He was best known for operating a [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] channel named 'Amadnews', which he founded in 2015. Zam played a high-profile role in the [[2017–2018 Iranian protests]], to which he devoted special coverage at the time. In June 2020, an Iran court found him guilty of "[[corruption on earth]]" for running a popular anti-government forum, which officials said had incited the 2017–2018 Iranian protests. He was sentenced to death by an Iranian court<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53238000 |title=Ruhollah Zam: Iran sentences journalist to death for fanning unrest|publisher=BBC News|language=en-US}}</ref> and was executed on 12 December 2020.
'''Ruhollah Zam''' ({{lang-fa|روح‌الله زم}}, also [[Romanization|Romanized]] as "Rouhollah Zam"; 27 July 1978{{spnd}}12 December 2020) was an Iranian activist and journalist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50045089|title=Ruhollah Zam: Iran 'arrests exiled journalist' for fanning unrest|publisher=BBC News|date=14 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-exile-telegram-channel-roohollah-zam-bring-down-government/28957053.html|title=Controversial Exile Using Social Media To Try To Bring Down Iranian Government|last=Najibullah|first=Farangis|date=5 January 2018|work=Radio Free Europe|access-date=8 January 2018}}</ref> Best known for operating a [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] channel named 'Amadnews', which he founded in 2015, Zam played a high-profile role in the [[2017–2018 Iranian protests]], to which he devoted special coverage at the time. In June 2020, an Iran court found him guilty of "[[corruption on earth]]" for running a popular anti-government forum, which officials said had incited the 2017–2018 Iranian protests. He was sentenced to death by an Iranian court<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53238000 |title=Ruhollah Zam: Iran sentences journalist to death for fanning unrest|publisher=BBC News|language=en-US}}</ref> and was executed on 12 December 2020.


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
Ruhollah Zam was born into a clerical family in Tehran in 1978.<ref name="A">{{Cite news|url=https://thearabweekly.com/tehrans-campaign-against-opposition-raises-questions|title=Tehran’s campaign against the opposition raises questions|work=The Arab Weekly|access-date=17 March 2019|language=en-US|last=Alfoneh|first=Ali}}</ref> His father, Mohammad-Ali Zam, is a [[Iranian reformists|reformist]] who served in senior government positions in the 1980s and 1990s.<ref name="AP"/> Mohammad-Ali Zam chose the name "Rouhollah" for his son as he was a supporter of [[Rouhollah Khomeini]], founder of the Islamic Republic in Iran, however, Rouhollah later asked his friends to call him ''Nima''. Ruhollah Zam turned against the establishment after the [[2009 Iranian presidential election protests]], and was imprisoned in [[Evin Prison]] for some time. Zam eventually fled Iran to reside in France.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/bild-international/telegram-interview-iran-protest-54371208.bild.html|title=With highspeed internet, the regime would be gone in a month|work=Bild|access-date=4 January 2018|language=en-US|last=Abri|first=Ehsan}}</ref>
Ruhollah Zam was born into a clerical family in Tehran in 1978.<ref name="A">{{Cite news|url=https://thearabweekly.com/tehrans-campaign-against-opposition-raises-questions|title=Tehran's campaign against the opposition raises questions|work=The Arab Weekly|access-date=17 March 2019|language=en-US|last=Alfoneh|first=Ali}}</ref> His father, Mohammad-Ali Zam, is a [[Iranian reformists|reformist]] who served in senior government positions in the 1980s and 1990s.<ref name="AP"/> Mohammad-Ali Zam chose the name "Rouhollah" for his son as he was a supporter of [[Rouhollah Khomeini]], founder of the Islamic Republic in Iran, however, Rouhollah later asked his friends to call him ''Nima''. Ruhollah Zam turned against the establishment after the [[2009 Iranian presidential election protests]], and was imprisoned in [[Evin Prison]] for some time. Zam eventually fled Iran to reside in France.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bild.de/politik/ausland/bild-international/telegram-interview-iran-protest-54371208.bild.html|title=With highspeed internet, the regime would be gone in a month|work=Bild|access-date=4 January 2018|language=en-US|last=Abri|first=Ehsan}}</ref>


He was best known for operating a [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] channel named 'Amadnews' (or 'Sedaiemardom', {{literal translation|Voice of the People}}), which he founded in 2015. Zam played a high-profile role in the [[2017–18 Iranian protests]], to which he devoted special coverage at the time.<ref name="AP">{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/78a46cea167e4f94ada0a690b7f2f3db|title=Protests in Iran fanned by exiled journalist, messaging app|work=AP News|access-date=31 December 2017|language=en-US|last=Gambrell|first=Jon}}</ref> The Telegram channel's mission is "spreading awareness and seeking justice", and it has about 1.4 million followers.<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 October 2019|title=Ruhollah Zam: Iran 'arrests exiled journalist' for fanning unrest|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50045089|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref> It provided the timing and organizational details of the protests as well as information about officials that challenged the Iranian government. After the Iranian government complained that the channel gave information about how to make gasoline bombs, Telegram shut down the channel in 2018, but it reappeared with a different name.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iran Upholds Death Sentence Against French-Based Journalist Captured Last Year |url=https://www.voanews.com/press-freedom/iran-upholds-death-sentence-against-french-based-journalist-captured-last-year |access-date=13 December 2020 |work=[[Voice of America]] |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=8 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vahdat |first1=Amir |title=Iranian journalist hanged for reporting 2017 anti-government protests |url=https://www.theage.com.au/world/asia/iranian-journalist-hanged-for-reporting-2017-anti-government-protests-20201212-p56my6.html |access-date=13 December 2020 |work=[[The Age]] |date=12 December 2020}}</ref> [[VOA-PNN|Voice of America's Persian service]] frequently invited Zam on its broadcasts.<ref name="A"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-app-powering-the-uprising-in-iran|title=The App Powering the Uprising in Iran, Where Some Channels Pushed for Violence|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=11 January 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>
He was best known for operating a [[Telegram (software)|Telegram]] channel named 'Amadnews' (or 'Sedaiemardom', {{literal translation|Voice of the People}}), which he founded in 2015. Zam played a high-profile role in the [[2017–18 Iranian protests]], to which he devoted special coverage at the time.<ref name="AP">{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/78a46cea167e4f94ada0a690b7f2f3db|title=Protests in Iran fanned by exiled journalist, messaging app|work=AP News|access-date=31 December 2017|language=en-US|last=Gambrell|first=Jon}}</ref> The Telegram channel's mission is "spreading awareness and seeking justice", and it has about 1.4&nbsp;million followers.<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 October 2019|title=Ruhollah Zam: Iran 'arrests exiled journalist' for fanning unrest|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50045089|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref> It provided the timing and organizational details of the protests as well as information about officials that challenged the Iranian government. After the Iranian government complained that the channel gave information about how to make gasoline bombs, Telegram shut down the channel in 2018, but it reappeared with a different name.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iran Upholds Death Sentence Against French-Based Journalist Captured Last Year |url=https://www.voanews.com/press-freedom/iran-upholds-death-sentence-against-french-based-journalist-captured-last-year |access-date=13 December 2020 |work=[[Voice of America]] |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=8 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vahdat |first1=Amir |title=Iranian journalist hanged for reporting 2017 anti-government protests |url=https://www.theage.com.au/world/asia/iranian-journalist-hanged-for-reporting-2017-anti-government-protests-20201212-p56my6.html |access-date=13 December 2020 |work=[[The Age]] |date=12 December 2020}}</ref> [[VOA-PNN|Voice of America's Persian service]] frequently invited Zam on its broadcasts.<ref name="A"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-app-powering-the-uprising-in-iran|title=The App Powering the Uprising in Iran, Where Some Channels Pushed for Violence|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=11 January 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>


Zam was married to Mahsa Razani and had two daughters.<ref>{{Cite web|title="The Regime Kidnapped my Husband from Baghdad"|url=https://iranwire.com/en/features/6378|access-date=2020-12-16|website=IranWire {{!}} خانه|language=en}}</ref>
== Arrest and Verdict ==
⚫
On 14 October 2019, Iran's [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|Revolutionary Guards]] announced they had lured Zam back to Iran and arrested him for spreading information about how to commit terroristic violence, although according to other sources, he had been arrested in [[Iraq]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2019/10/18/Iraqi-govt-source-challenges-IRGC-s-story-of-arrest-of-Iranian-dissident|title=Iraqi govt. source challenges IRGC’s story of arrest of Iranian dissident|access-date=12 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201212-iran-executes-opposition-figure-ruhollah-zam-1|title=Iran executes opposition figure Ruhollah Zam|access-date=12 December 2020}}</ref> The court hearing was held at the 15th branch of the [[Islamic Revolutionary Court]] in Tehran, presided over by Judge [[Abolqasem Salavati]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2020/02/10/2200329/first-trial-session-of-ruhollah-zam-held-in-tehran|title=First Trial Session of Ruhollah Zam Held in Tehran – Politics news|website=Tasnim News Agency|language=en|access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref> Zam was sentenced to death according to the judiciary spokesman, Gholamhossein Esmaili, on 30 June 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Karimi |first=Nasser |title=Iran journalist who fueled 2017 protests sentenced to death |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/iran-journalist-who-fueled-2017-protests-sentenced-to-death-1.5005313 |website=CTV News |date=30 June 2020 }}</ref> He was executed by hanging on 12 December 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|date=12 December 2020|title=Ruhollah Zam: Iran executes journalist accused of fanning unrest|language=en-GB|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55285301|access-date=12 December 2020}}</ref>


===Reactions===
== Arrest ==
⚫
On 14 October 2019, Iran's [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|Revolutionary Guard]] announced they had lured Zam back to Iran and arrested him, although according to other sources, he had been arrested in [[Iraq]] by intelligence officials, and handed over to Iran based on the [[Iran-Iraq relations|extradition agreement]] between the two countries signed in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2019/10/18/Iraqi-govt-source-challenges-IRGC-s-story-of-arrest-of-Iranian-dissident|title=Iraqi govt. source challenges IRGC's story of arrest of Iranian dissident|date=18 October 2019 |access-date=12 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201212-iran-executes-opposition-figure-ruhollah-zam-1|title=Iran executes opposition figure Ruhollah Zam|date=12 December 2020 |access-date=12 December 2020}}</ref> The court hearing was held at the 15th branch of the [[Islamic Revolutionary Court]] in Tehran, presided over by Judge [[Abolqasem Salavati]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2020/02/10/2200329/first-trial-session-of-ruhollah-zam-held-in-tehran|title=First Trial Session of Ruhollah Zam Held in Tehran – Politics news|website=Tasnim News Agency|language=en|access-date=11 February 2020}}</ref> Zam was sentenced to death according to the judiciary spokesman, Gholamhossein Esmaili, on 30 June 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Karimi |first=Nasser |title=Iran journalist who fueled 2017 protests sentenced to death |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/iran-journalist-who-fueled-2017-protests-sentenced-to-death-1.5005313 |publisher=CTV News |date=30 June 2020 }}</ref>
⚫
[[Reporters Without Borders]] (RSF) condemned the execution and stated, {{quote|"RSF is outraged at this new crime of Iranian justice and sees (Supreme Leader Ayatollah) @ali_khamenei as the mastermind of this execution"<ref name="Reuters2020">{{cite web | url=https://in.reuters.com/article/uk-iran-execution-dissident/iran-executes-dissident-journalist-ruhollah-zam-state-media-idUSKBN28M06S | title=Iran executes French-based dissident journalist captured last year | publisher=Reuters | date=12 December 2020 | accessdate=12 December 2020}}</ref>}}

⚫
The foreign ministry of France, where Zam was living in exile, stated, {{quote|"France condemns in the strongest possible terms this serious breach of free expression and press freedom in Iran. This is a barbaric and unacceptable act that goes against the country’s international commitments."<ref name="Reuters2020"/>}}
===Accusations of French involvement===
⚫
[[Amnesty International]] stated it was, {{quote|"Shocked and horrified” by Iran's action. We call on the international community, including member states of the UN Human Rights Council and the EU, to take immediate action to pressure the Iranian authorities to halt their escalating use of the death penalty as a weapon of political repression.<ref name="Reuters2020"/>}}As a response to the execution, ambassadors from France, Germany, Austria, and Italy cancelled their participation in the Europe-Iran Business Forum, an online business forum.<ref>{{Cite news|date=13 December 2020|title=Ruhollah Zam: EU powers boycott Iran forum over execution|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55296434|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref>
Shortly after Zam's arrest, the French newspaper Le Figaro accused the French government of involvement. Zam, who was living under police protection, discussed all his travel plans with French Police. Le Figaro implied that French police did not discourage Zam from traveling, as part of a prisoner swap agreement with Iran.<ref name="LeFigaro">{{cite web | url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/espionnage-comment-l-iran-a-capture-un-opposant-vivant-en-france-20191015 | title=Espionnage: comment l'Iran a capturé un opposant vivant en France | publisher=Le Figaro | date=15 October 2019 | access-date=9 November 2021}}</ref>

In November 2021 the Iranian Security official Akbar Khoshkooshak claimed France helped organize the arrest of Zam, in return for the release of a French undercover agent, captured by Shiite militia in Syria.<ref name="DW">{{cite web | url=https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%DA%AF%DB%8C%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%B2%D9%85-%D9%88-%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B9%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%87%D9%85%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B3%D9%87/a-59766202?maca=per-tco-dw | title=روایتی متفاوت از دستگیری روح‌الله زم و ادعای همکاری فرانسه | publisher=DW.com | date=9 November 2021 | access-date=9 November 2021}}</ref>

== Execution ==
Zam was executed by hanging on 12 December 2020.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 December 2020 |title=Ruhollah Zam: Iran executes journalist accused of fanning unrest |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55285301 |access-date=12 December 2020}}</ref> Zam was executed in [[Rejaei Shahr]] prison and was on hunger strike at the time of execution.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-13 |title="روح‌الله زم هنگام اعدام در اعتصاب غذا بود" |url=https://farsi.alarabiya.net/iran/2020/12/13/-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%B2%D9%85-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%87%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%BA%D8%B0%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AF- |access-date=2022-12-28 |website=العربیه فارسی |language=fa}}</ref> A number of state officials including the state prosecutor [[Amin Vaziri]] were present to watch his execution.<ref>{{Cite web |title=جزئیات اعدام "روح الله زم" |url=https://news.gooya.com/2020/12/post-46381.php |access-date=2022-12-28 |website=news.gooya.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Reaction===
[[Reporters Without Borders]] (RSF) condemned the execution and stated,

⚫
{{blockquote|RSF is outraged at this new crime of Iranian justice and sees (Supreme Leader Ayatollah) @ali_khamenei as the mastermind of this execution.<ref name="Reuters2020">{{cite web | url=https://in.reuters.com/article/uk-iran-execution-dissident/iran-executes-dissident-journalist-ruhollah-zam-state-media-idUSKBN28M06S | title=Iran executes French-based dissident journalist captured last year | publisher=Reuters | date=12 December 2020 | access-date=12 December 2020}}</ref>}}

The foreign ministry of France, where Zam was living in exile, stated,

⚫
{{blockquote|France condemns in the strongest possible terms this serious breach of free expression and press freedom in Iran. This is a barbaric and unacceptable act that goes against the country's international commitments.<ref name="Reuters2020"/>}}

[[Amnesty International]] stated it was,

{{blockquote|Shocked and horrified ... We call on the international community, including member states of the UN Human Rights Council and the EU, to take immediate action to pressure the Iranian authorities to halt their escalating use of the death penalty as a weapon of political repression.<ref name="Reuters2020"/>}}

⚫
As a response to the execution, ambassadors from France, Germany, Austria, and Italy cancelled their participation in the Europe-Iran Business Forum, an online business forum.<ref>{{Cite news|date=13 December 2020|title=Ruhollah Zam: EU powers boycott Iran forum over execution|language=en-GB|publisher=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55296434|access-date=14 December 2020}}</ref>

[[International Bar Association]] Human Rights Institute described it as a [[judicial murder]].<ref>{{cite tweet|author=[[International Bar Association]] Human Rights Institute|user=IBAHRI|number=1338832718306664451|title=#IBAHRI condemns murder of Ruhollah Zam: #Iranian #dissident #journalist, editor of AmadNews, arbitrarily arrested in Oct 2020. Sentenced to death for ‘spreading corruption on earth’. Sentence confirmed on 8 Dec. Four days later hanged. #DeathPenalty #Iran|date=15 December 2020}}</ref>

In 2023, The documentary about Ruhollah Zam, Son of Mullah, was releasad. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Engström |first=Emma |date=2023-08-31 |title=”Son of the mullah” – en verklig thriller om paranoia |url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/en-verklig-thriller-om-paranoia-och-vald-i-mullornas-iran |access-date=2024-02-18 |work=Sveriges Radio |language=sv}}</ref> It follows the director, Nahid Persson Sarvestani, as she interviews and documents Zam during a year.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Navid Afkari]], a wrestler executed in 2020 for his alleged actions during the [[2017–2018 Iranian protests]]
*[[Capital punishment in Iran]]
*[[List of foreign nationals detained in Iran]]
* [[Capital punishment in Iran]]
* [[List of foreign nationals detained in Iran]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
{{List of foreign nationals detained in Iran}}

{{List of political prisoners of Iran}}
{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zam, Ruhollah}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zam, Ruhollah}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Tehran]]
[[Category:Activists from Tehran]]
[[Category:Executed journalists]]
[[Category:Iranian journalists]]
[[Category:Iranian journalists]]
[[Category:Iranian activists]]
[[Category:Iranian activists]]
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[[Category:Iranian expatriates in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Iranian expatriates in Malaysia]]
[[Category:Iranian expatriates in France]]
[[Category:Iranian expatriates in France]]
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[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of Iran]]
[[Category:Inmates of Evin Prison]]
[[Category:Inmates of Evin Prison]]
[[Category:2017–2018 Iranian protests| ]]
[[Category:2017–2018 Iranian protests]]
[[Category:Human rights abuses in Iran|Ruhollah Zam ]]
[[Category:Human rights abuses in Iran]]
[[Category:People executed by Iran by hanging]]
[[Category:People executed by Iran by hanging]]
[[Category:People convicted of corruption]]
[[Category:People convicted of corruption]]
[[Category:Sharia by country]]
[[Category:Sharia in Iran]]
[[Category:Executed activists]]
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[[Category:Foreign nationals detained in Iran]]
[[Category:Political prisoners in Iran]]

Latest revision as of 15:55, 18 May 2024

Ruhollah Zam
Born(1978-07-27)27 July 1978
Ray, Iran
Died12 December 2020(2020-12-12) (aged 42)
Tehran, Iran
Other namesNima[1]
OccupationJournalist
Known forOperating Telegram channel Amadnews
Criminal charge(s)Espionage
Mofsed-e-filarz
Criminal penaltyCapital punishment by hanging
Criminal statusExecuted
SpouseMahsa Razani
Children2
ParentMohammad Ali Zam (father)

Ruhollah Zam (Persian: روح‌الله زم, also Romanized as "Rouhollah Zam"; 27 July 1978 – 12 December 2020) was an Iranian activist and journalist.[2][3] Best known for operating a Telegram channel named 'Amadnews', which he founded in 2015, Zam played a high-profile role in the 2017–2018 Iranian protests, to which he devoted special coverage at the time. In June 2020, an Iran court found him guilty of "corruption on earth" for running a popular anti-government forum, which officials said had incited the 2017–2018 Iranian protests. He was sentenced to death by an Iranian court[4] and was executed on 12 December 2020.

Biography

[edit]

Ruhollah Zam was born into a clerical family in Tehran in 1978.[5] His father, Mohammad-Ali Zam, is a reformist who served in senior government positions in the 1980s and 1990s.[6] Mohammad-Ali Zam chose the name "Rouhollah" for his son as he was a supporter of Rouhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic in Iran, however, Rouhollah later asked his friends to call him Nima. Ruhollah Zam turned against the establishment after the 2009 Iranian presidential election protests, and was imprisoned in Evin Prison for some time. Zam eventually fled Iran to reside in France.[7]

He was best known for operating a Telegram channel named 'Amadnews' (or 'Sedaiemardom', lit. 'Voice of the People'), which he founded in 2015. Zam played a high-profile role in the 2017–18 Iranian protests, to which he devoted special coverage at the time.[6] The Telegram channel's mission is "spreading awareness and seeking justice", and it has about 1.4 million followers.[8] It provided the timing and organizational details of the protests as well as information about officials that challenged the Iranian government. After the Iranian government complained that the channel gave information about how to make gasoline bombs, Telegram shut down the channel in 2018, but it reappeared with a different name.[9][10] Voice of America's Persian service frequently invited Zam on its broadcasts.[5][11]

Zam was married to Mahsa Razani and had two daughters.[12]

Arrest

[edit]

On 14 October 2019, Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced they had lured Zam back to Iran and arrested him, although according to other sources, he had been arrested in Iraq by intelligence officials, and handed over to Iran based on the extradition agreement between the two countries signed in 2011.[13][14] The court hearing was held at the 15th branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran, presided over by Judge Abolqasem Salavati.[15] Zam was sentenced to death according to the judiciary spokesman, Gholamhossein Esmaili, on 30 June 2020.[16]

Accusations of French involvement

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Shortly after Zam's arrest, the French newspaper Le Figaro accused the French government of involvement. Zam, who was living under police protection, discussed all his travel plans with French Police. Le Figaro implied that French police did not discourage Zam from traveling, as part of a prisoner swap agreement with Iran.[17]

In November 2021 the Iranian Security official Akbar Khoshkooshak claimed France helped organize the arrest of Zam, in return for the release of a French undercover agent, captured by Shiite militia in Syria.[18]

Execution

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Zam was executed by hanging on 12 December 2020.[19] Zam was executed in Rejaei Shahr prison and was on hunger strike at the time of execution.[20] A number of state officials including the state prosecutor Amin Vaziri were present to watch his execution.[21]

Reaction

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Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the execution and stated,

RSF is outraged at this new crime of Iranian justice and sees (Supreme Leader Ayatollah) @ali_khamenei as the mastermind of this execution.[22]

The foreign ministry of France, where Zam was living in exile, stated,

France condemns in the strongest possible terms this serious breach of free expression and press freedom in Iran. This is a barbaric and unacceptable act that goes against the country's international commitments.[22]

Amnesty International stated it was,

Shocked and horrified ... We call on the international community, including member states of the UN Human Rights Council and the EU, to take immediate action to pressure the Iranian authorities to halt their escalating use of the death penalty as a weapon of political repression.[22]

As a response to the execution, ambassadors from France, Germany, Austria, and Italy cancelled their participation in the Europe-Iran Business Forum, an online business forum.[23]

International Bar Association Human Rights Institute described it as a judicial murder.[24]

In 2023, The documentary about Ruhollah Zam, Son of Mullah, was releasad. [25] It follows the director, Nahid Persson Sarvestani, as she interviews and documents Zam during a year.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ ""نیما زم" که بود؟". مشرق نیوز. 12 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Ruhollah Zam: Iran 'arrests exiled journalist' for fanning unrest". BBC News. 14 October 2019.
  3. ^ Najibullah, Farangis (5 January 2018). "Controversial Exile Using Social Media To Try To Bring Down Iranian Government". Radio Free Europe. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Ruhollah Zam: Iran sentences journalist to death for fanning unrest". BBC News.
  5. ^ a b Alfoneh, Ali. "Tehran's campaign against the opposition raises questions". The Arab Weekly. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  6. ^ a b Gambrell, Jon. "Protests in Iran fanned by exiled journalist, messaging app". AP News. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  7. ^ Abri, Ehsan. "With highspeed internet, the regime would be gone in a month". Bild. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Ruhollah Zam: Iran 'arrests exiled journalist' for fanning unrest". BBC News. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Iran Upholds Death Sentence Against French-Based Journalist Captured Last Year". Voice of America. Reuters. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  10. ^ Vahdat, Amir (12 December 2020). "Iranian journalist hanged for reporting 2017 anti-government protests". The Age. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  11. ^ "The App Powering the Uprising in Iran, Where Some Channels Pushed for Violence". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  12. ^ ""The Regime Kidnapped my Husband from Baghdad"". IranWire | خانه. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Iraqi govt. source challenges IRGC's story of arrest of Iranian dissident". 18 October 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  14. ^ "Iran executes opposition figure Ruhollah Zam". 12 December 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  15. ^ "First Trial Session of Ruhollah Zam Held in Tehran – Politics news". Tasnim News Agency. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  16. ^ Karimi, Nasser (30 June 2020). "Iran journalist who fueled 2017 protests sentenced to death". CTV News.
  17. ^ "Espionnage: comment l'Iran a capturé un opposant vivant en France". Le Figaro. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  18. ^ "روایتی متفاوت از دستگیری روح‌الله زم و ادعای همکاری فرانسه". DW.com. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Ruhollah Zam: Iran executes journalist accused of fanning unrest". BBC News. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  20. ^ ""روح‌الله زم هنگام اعدام در اعتصاب غذا بود"". العربیه فارسی (in Persian). 13 December 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  21. ^ "جزئیات اعدام "روح الله زم"". news.gooya.com. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  22. ^ a b c "Iran executes French-based dissident journalist captured last year". Reuters. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Ruhollah Zam: EU powers boycott Iran forum over execution". BBC News. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  24. ^ International Bar Association Human Rights Institute [@IBAHRI] (15 December 2020). "#IBAHRI condemns murder of Ruhollah Zam: #Iranian #dissident #journalist, editor of AmadNews, arbitrarily arrested in Oct 2020. Sentenced to death for 'spreading corruption on earth'. Sentence confirmed on 8 Dec. Four days later hanged. #DeathPenalty #Iran" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. ^ Engström, Emma (31 August 2023). ""Son of the mullah" – en verklig thriller om paranoia". Sveriges Radio (in Swedish). Retrieved 18 February 2024.
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