Journalists Arrested in Rapid Succession in Iran - According to Reports
In Iran, the past few months have seen a significant rise in the arrest and imprisonment of journalists, particularly women. Saideh Shafiei, an independent journalist and storyteller, is one of the latest additions to this concerning trend.
The latest wave of arrests began on late October, when over 300 Iranian journalists signed a declaration criticising the authorities for "jailing colleagues and removing them of their civil liberties". This declaration followed the imprisonment of three women journalists, Melika Hashemi, Saideh Shafiei, and Mehrnoush Zarei, in Tehran within the past 48 hours.
Melika Hashemi works for an electrical outlet named Shahr, while Mehrnoush Zarei writes for numerous reformist magazines. The exact reasons for their most recent apprehensions remain unclear.
The arrests and imprisonments are not isolated incidents. Since the beginning of the unrest in the country four months ago, approximately 80 reporters have been jailed, with a significant number being women. These journalists were moved to Evin jail, where most of those arrested in connection with the protests are being held.
The protests, which have been ongoing since September 16 and are being classified as "troubles" by authorities, were sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd. Amini was detained by the morality police for allegedly breaching the nation’s stringent outfit code for women.
The authorities have stated that numerous individuals, including members of the security forces, have been killed and thousands have been detained during the protests. However, the exact number of individuals killed during the protests is not specified.
The Iranian authorities have also blamed the "adversaries" of the Islamic republic for instigating the protests. This claim, however, has not been substantiated.
This continued suppression of female journalists and media workers in Iran reflects a broader crackdown on dissent and press freedom. Apart from these journalists, prominent female activists like Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi face imprisonment and threats due to their outspoken stance on human rights and women’s issues in Iran. Mohammadi remains imprisoned in Evin Prison under multiple sentences with ongoing harassment from regime-linked actors.
This trend of arresting and imprisoning journalists for their critical reporting on the Islamic Republic’s policies, corruption, and social issues, including criticism of Iran’s international relations and coverage of politically sensitive events like the Bandar Rajai explosion, is a concerning development for press freedom in Iran. It is a reminder of the challenges faced by journalists and activists in the country, and the need for continued international scrutiny and support.
Reference(s): [1] Reporters Without Borders. (n.d.). Iran. Retrieved from https://rsf.org/en/iran [2] Human Rights Watch. (2023, October 24). Iran: Journalists Arrested, Imprisoned for Peaceful Work. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/24/iran-journalists-arrested-imprisoned-peaceful-work [3] Amnesty International. (2023, September 23). Iran: Release imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2023/09/iran-release-imprisoned-nobel-peace-prize-laureate-narges-mohammadi/
The latest declaration signed by over 300 Iranian journalists criticizes the authorities for imprisoning colleagues, including Melika Hashemi, Saideh Shafiei, and Mehrnoush Zarei. This news, which falls under general-news and crime-and-justice, also reveals the significant arrests of women journalists in the past few months, a trend that resembles a broader crackdown on press freedom in Iran.
