Kurdish-Iranian journalists jailed, sentenced to 90 lashes

Police stand guards in Tehran, Iran. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 10 August 2021
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Kurdish-Iranian journalists jailed, sentenced to 90 lashes

  • According to the rights group, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps arrested Amjadian and Haq-Bayan in August 2019 and held them in solitary confinement for two months before releasing them on bail

LONDON: Kurdish-Iranian Journalists Sharam Amjadian and Morteza Haq-Bayan were sentenced to two and half years in jail for allegedly spreading false news, according to the Iraqi-Kurdish human rights organization Hengaw.

Both journalists, who previously ran a news channel on the encrypted messaging app Telegram, were also sentenced to 90 lashes each.

“Iranian authorities should not contest the appeals of journalists Sharam Amjadian and Morteza Haq-Bayan, and must stop legally harassing members of the press for their work,” Sherif Mansour, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ Middle East and North Africa program coordinator, said.

“Neither journalist should spend one day in jail, and should certainly not be subjected to lashes in retaliation for their news coverage.”

According to the rights group, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps arrested Amjadian and Haq-Bayan in August 2019 and held them in solitary confinement for two months before releasing them on bail. Their trial started in November 2020.

 


Shahid, Disney+ and OSN+ launch exclusive streaming bundle across GCC

Updated 24 December 2025
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Shahid, Disney+ and OSN+ launch exclusive streaming bundle across GCC

  • Bundle available exclusively visa Shahid for $25 a month

RIYADH: In a landmark regional collaboration, Shahid, Disney+, and OSN+ have announced an exclusive streaming bundle that brings together world-class hits from the three platforms under a single subscription in a first-of-its-kind offer for audiences in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

The all-in-one entertainment package, available only through Shahid in the GCC for about $25 a month, grants subscribers full access to three leading platforms covering Hollywood blockbusters, Disney+’s expansive range of beloved films, animations and series, OSN+’s library of HBO originals and international hits, and Shahid’s Arabic premium content.

The bundle is designed to simplify subscription management with a unified payment model, allowing viewers to access all three apps at the price of two and offering a streamlined user experience. 

Natasha Matos-Hemingway, chief commercial and marketing officer at Shahid, said the partnership reflects a broader effort to expand digital entertainment offerings in the Middle East, catering to a growing audience seeking diversity, convenience and high-quality programming.

“We are proud to collaborate with OSN+ and Disney+ to offer an unmatched streaming experience to our subscribers,” she said. “With one subscription, one payment, and full access to premium content from all three platforms, we’re delivering unbeatable convenience, value and entertainment.”

With a growing demand for high-quality on-demand content, the bundle is expected to attract a wide range of users seeking comprehensive entertainment without juggling multiple subscriptions.

The move also signals increasing cooperation between global media giants and regional platforms, in a bid to meet the entertainment preferences of Arab audiences while expanding market reach.

Karl Holmes, SVP and general manager at Disney+ EMEA, said the collaboration will bring award-winning series like FX’s “Shogun” and favorites such as “Lilo & Stitch” into a unique bundle with Shahid’s regional hits including “Al Dariya.”

The agreement “reflects a shared ambition between Disney+ and Shahid to shape the future of entertainment in the Middle East,” said Holmes. “The Middle East is young, dynamic and fast-growing, and we’re delighted to give consumers a new and easy way to access extraordinary content at exceptional value.”

Choucri Khairallah, chief business officer at OSN+, said the partnership takes OSN+’s entertainment experience “to the next level.”

He added: “Today’s audiences expect more than great content; they seek seamless access, variety and exceptional value. This all-in-one bundle delivers exactly that.”