Sasan Aghaei is an Iranian reformist journalist and political columnist who serves as deputy editor of the daily Etemad. He was arrested at his office in Tehran on 12 August 2017 by plain‑clothes agents from the Intelligence Protection Section of the judiciary for alleged cooperation with Amad News, a Telegram‑based opposition outlet; he was transferred to Ward 241 of Evin Prison and held in solitary confinement for over two months, during which authorities pressured him to confess ties to that channel. His detention was repeatedly extended without formal charges and denied family visits or legal counsel. National and international press freedom organisations condemned the arbitrary detention, calling it cruel, inhuman, and amounting to torture. He was finally released on bail after more than 100 days in isolation, pending trial, in late November or early December 2017, after widespread calls for his release from members of Iran’s parliament, IFJ, RSF and others. His arrest was the fourth time he had been detained, including in 2009, 2013 and 2011 for exercising independent journalism and covering protests, with previous imprisonments involving long solitary confinement and accusations of “propaganda against the state” before being released on bail or served partial sentences.