Dear Mr. Shafieyan.

I am glad that I have received so much attention from you and your friends that you are revisiting news from years ago.

Everyone has a past, and I always fondly remember where I started my work. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting has been like a university for me and many media activists inside and outside of Iran, where we learned and grew. As you saw, I correctly referred to you as a colleague. However, this does not mean that I earn income from the same source as you or that we are both employees of the same organization; in fact, I have never been an employee anywhere.

In any case, although your tweet reminds me of 'searching under the armpit of a snake,' it indicates that you, your friends, and your guides are quite disturbed by the precise news of the arrest of the head of the Chamber of Cooperatives, especially with the charge of 'participating in disrupting the country’s economic system through significant and major disruption in the distribution of essential goods related to the sale of meat.'

Finally, while I still find it hard to believe that these words truly reflect your innermost feelings, I invite you, esteemed colleague, to reflect on a verse from Khwāja Shīrāzī:

'Whether I am good or bad, you be yourself. Everyone reaps the consequences of their actions, which they have sown.'

Best wishes.