Iran, Biggest Jailer of Women Journalists
Nasrin Sotoudeh
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Raha (Raheleh) Askari Zadeh
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Zeynab Jalalian
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Mojgan Sayami
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Sepideh Qoliyan
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Zoreh Sarve
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Nada Sabouri
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Shabnam Ashaouri
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Aliyeh Motallebzadeh
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Nooshin Jafari
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Rahil Mousavi
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Firoozeh Khosravani
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Mina Keshavarz
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Reyhaneh Taravati
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Shilan Assadi
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Yalda Moaiery
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Nilufar Hamidi
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Elahe Mohammadi
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Elnaz Mohammadi
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Samira Alinejad
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Vida Rabbani
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Zahra Tohidi
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Elmira Bahmani
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Mehrnoosh Tafian
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Saba Sherdost
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Mandana Sadegi
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Farkhondeh Ashori
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Farzaneh Yahya-Abadi
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Marzieh Amiri
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Saeedeh Fathi
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Nazila Maroofian
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Nasrin Hassani
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Somayeh Masror
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Malihe Darki
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Maryam Vahidian
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Nastaran Farokheh
Nasrin Sotoudeh · Raha (Raheleh) Askari Zadeh · Zeynab Jalalian · Mojgan Sayami · Sepideh Qoliyan · Zoreh Sarve · Nada Sabouri · Shabnam Ashaouri · Aliyeh Motallebzadeh · Nooshin Jafari · Rahil Mousavi · Firoozeh Khosravani · Mina Keshavarz · Reyhaneh Taravati · Shilan Assadi · Yalda Moaiery · Nilufar Hamidi · Elahe Mohammadi · Elnaz Mohammadi · Samira Alinejad · Vida Rabbani · Zahra Tohidi · Elmira Bahmani · Mehrnoosh Tafian · Saba Sherdost · Mandana Sadegi · Farkhondeh Ashori · Farzaneh Yahya-Abadi · Marzieh Amiri · Saeedeh Fathi · Nazila Maroofian · Nasrin Hassani · Somayeh Masror · Malihe Darki · Maryam Vahidian · Nastaran Farokheh
Since the protests started over Mahsa Amini’s death, at least 44 women journalists have been arrested bringing the total number of incarcerated women journalists to 41 currently. While there have been at least 21 releases, the CFWIJ has been monitoring the situation on the ground as well as journalists facing intimidation and threats outside of the country.
Index
Reports
Timelines
Women Journalists Behind Bars
All portraits shown here are created by the art project www.wahrheitskaempfer.de.>>
List: WIJ Reporting On Iran
Timeline of Arrests
September 19, 2022
Journalist Yalda Moaiery was physically assaulted while being taken into custody along with other female protesters. Her family was not allowed to see her. According to her brother, the journalist was taken to a prison in Tehran. Moaiery was eventually released from Qarchak prison on December 22.
September 21, 2022
Niloofar Hamedi, a journalist with Tehran-based semi-reformist Shargh Daily, was arrested from her home. She was the first to report on Mahsa's hospitalization. A tweet posted by her lawyer, Mohammad-Ali Kamfirouzi, confirmed that she was being held in solitary confinement and was interrogated in Tehran’s Evin prison. As of yet, the journalist has not been informed of the charges, if any, against her. On October 30, 2022 Hamedi was accused by the Iranian government for having ties with the CIA. The Islamic Republic has classified Hamedi as a foreign agent and incriminated her of being “primary sources of news for foreign media”. Hamedi is currently being held captive in Evin prison. 88 days after Hamedi’s detention her husband Mohammad Hossein Ajorloo was finally able to enter the Evin prosecutor’s office and talk to the prosecutor. They conveyed to him that Niloofar was transferred to Qarchak prison. Niloofar Hamedi’s future is in complete uncertainty.
Batol Balali, a reporter for Kerman Farda news website and local weekly Pasargad in the city of Kerman was arrested while covering the protests in Sirjan in Kerman province over the death of the 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Balali has since been released awaiting her trial.
September 22, 2022
Elahe Mohammadi, a reporter with state-run Ham-Mihan Daily, Elnaz Mohammadi, a political reporter with partially state-run bi-monthly Andisheh Pouya magazine and Elahe’s twin sister were arrested. Elahe Mohammadi’s husband has confirmed that she has been moved to Qarchak prison. Elnaz Mohammadi has since been released from prison. On February 5, it was reported that Elnaz Mohammadi was summoned to the Evin Prosecutor's Office where she was arrested again without explanation. On February 12, Elnaz Mohammadi was released again on bail. On September 2, 2023, Elnaz Mohammadi was handed a three-year suspended prison sentence on charges of "assembly and collusion," however, she was cleared of allegations of collaborating with foreign entities due to insufficient evidence. In addition to the suspended sentence, Elnaz Mohammadi also faces a five-year travel ban and restrictions on her professional activities. Elahe Mohammadi is incarcerated in Evin prison due to accusations by the Islamic Republic and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) for being trained as a foreign agent along with Niloofar Hamedi.
September 23, 2022
Fatemeh Rajabi, an economics reporter, was arrested from her home in Tehran. CFWIJ’s sources on the ground said her whereabouts could not be immediately ascertained. She was released on bail on October 18. Vida Rabbani, a political commentator, was sentenced to 10 years and four months in prison and banned from practicing journalism.
September 24, 2022
Sisters Zahra Tohidi and Hoda Tohidi, two political reporters, were reportedly taken by security forces. Details surrounding their arrest could not be immediately ascertained. Both journalists have since been released.
September 26, 2022
Elmira Bahmani, freelance reporter, commentator and columnist on women’s rights issues, was arrested from the northern city of Rasht in Gilan province. The reason behind Elmira’s arrest is unknown and it is not clear whether or not she took part in any demonstrations in the city before her arrest. On the same day, Sarvenaz Ahmadi, a freelance political and cultural reporter, was also arrested by security forces and recently released on bail after days in detention. On November 6, Ahmadi was arrested again along with her journalist husband after armed agents raided their home in Tehran. The reasons for their arrest are yet unknown. On December 7, 2022 Ahmadi was temporarily released after posting bail. The 15th Branch of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced Sarvenaz Ahmadi to 6 years in prison. On January 4, 2023, the court held a hearing on the accusations against Sarvenaz Ahmadi and her spouse. If the sentence is approved during the appeal stage, Article 134 of the regime’s Penal Code, the harshest punishment of 5 years, will be implemented for Ahmadi. On March 12, 2023, Ahmadi was sentenced to three years and six months in prison.
September 29, 2022
According to a report from the Iran Journalists' Association, Marzieh Talaee, a journalist for Mokarian News Agency was arrested in Kurdistan and is among the first arrested journalists who are still in prison.
September 30, 2022
Nasrin Hassani, a reporter for the local state-run newspaper Etefaghyeh was arrested in Bojnourd in North Khorasan province.
October 1, 2022
Safiyeh Qarabaghi, a freelance reporter who covers women’s issues in her hometown of Zanjan, was arrested according to a tweet by her husband, who said she was taken to an undisclosed location. She was released on bail later.
October 3, 2022
Sepideh Salarvand, an award-winning documentary maker, was arrested from her Tehran home. Her most recent project focused on Afghan child laborers in Iran. She was released 2 weeks later.
October 5, 2022
Mehrnoosh Tafian, a freelance political reporter, was arrested from the southwestern city of Ahvaz, in the majority Arab province of Khuzestan, according to IranWire. On January 5, 2023, Tafian was sentenced to one year in prison and banned from leaving the country for two years.
October 8, 2022
Reporter Somayeh Masror, who works for the state-run Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) was arrested in her hometown of Isfahan according to the local state-run news website Sedayejoya.ir. Masror has since been released from prison.
October 10, 2022
Saba Sherdoost, a freelance reporter, was arrested from her home in Tehran. Her husband, Milad Fadaei-Asl, also a journalist, was arrested along with her. HRANA media says in a Twitter post that journalist Saba Sherdoost was released on bail until the end of legal proceedings.
October 16, 2022
Saeedeh Fathi, a freelance sports reporter, was arrested at her home in Tehran and detained without any charges. Fathi has since been released on bail.
October 19, 2022
Journalist and political activist Mandana Sadeghi in Abadan and journalist Farkhondeh Ashori in Shiraz were arrested according to CFWIJ’s sources on the ground. Sadeghi was previously prosecuted during the protests of November 2018, and criticism of what happened during the construction and then the collapse of the Metropol building in Abadan. She has a case against her in the judiciary of Khuzestan province. She has since been released on bail after 42 days in detention. Freelance journalist Farzaneh Yahya-Abadi was also arrested from her office in Abadan in the morning.
October 28, 2022
Freelance photojournalist Malihe Darki, was arrested in the central city of Shiraz in Shiraz province according to a report from IranWire.
October 30, 2022
Journalist Marzieh Amiri was arrested for the third time. She was previously charged with 10.5 years in prison and 147 lashes. She is reportedly currently incarcerated in Evin prison. Her work was essential to reporting on the dire poverty in the country, gender inequality and government corruption among other issues. Amiri has been released on bail after 47 days in detention.
Samira Alinejad, a reporter with the state-run local news website SirjanRavi News, was also arrested while covering the demonstration in the southern city of Sirjan, according to Ashkan News. She is being held at Sirjan central prison. Alinejad has since been released from prison.
Nazila Maroofian, a reporter of Rouydad 24 and former reporter of Didban Iran was arrested from a friend’s home and taken into custody. She was immediately transferred to the detention center of the Ministry of Intelligence known as Ward 209 at the infamous Evin Prison. There is no information on the reasons for her arrest and charges yet. Maroofian was the first journalist to interview Amjad, the father of murdered Mahsa Amini, on October 19. This young journalist suffered a great deal of mental pressure and mental torture in prison and under interrogation. She was held in solitary confinement or cells with a small number of prisoners.
The day before the trial, she fainted and had a heart attack. Maroofian was then transferred to Muftah hospital in Shahreri. She was returned to Qarchak prison, even though the tests run on the conditions of her health were not completed. On January 9, Maroofian was temporarily released from Qarchak prison after 72 days of detention, with a bail of 600 million tomans. On January 28, the Kurdish journalist was sentenced to two years in prison, a fine of 15 million Tomans and a five-year ban on leaving Iran.
On June 15 the journalist took to Twitter to share the abuse she has faced from.a Special Unit officer since her release. "What's with the hair and look? Of course, because you're a prostitute, you dress like this," Maroofian recounts an incident in which the officer made derogatory comments. Maroofian hinted the relentless threats and limitations on her work could lead to drastic measures such as suicide. "As long as I'm alive, I will write and stay in my country," the reporter wrote. Maroofian was arrested for the second time on July 8 after being summoned to the Evin Prosecutor's Office in Tehran. Four days prior, on July 4 security forces conducted a raid at Maroofian's residence in Tehran, during which they seized several personal items, including her mobile phone and laptop.
Maroofian experienced a brief respite from confinement when she was released from prison on August 13, 2023, after enduring five weeks behind bars. Unfortunately, she was once again apprehended merely two days later, on August 15, 2023, marking her third arrest. She was released on bail 24 hours later.
On September 1, 2023, Maroofian was unjustly rearrested for the fourth time, facing charges of "propaganda against the system" and "spreading false news".
Presiding over the court, Judge Iman Afashari finds Maroofian guilty of "spreading propaganda against the regime." As a result, Maroofian received a sentence of one year of imprisonment and a fine of 15 million tomans. In a powerful act of defiance, Maroofian initiates a dry hunger strike to protest against the blatant violation of her rights.
November 1, 2022
Maral Darafarin, a freelance journalist, was arrested in her hometown of Lahijan in Gilan province, HRANA reported.
November 10, 2022
Police forces arrested Fatemeh Nasser Ranjbar, the public relations officer of Digikala. On December 12, 2022, Ranjbar was released after posting bail.
November 15, 2022
Saba Abdollahi was arrested as part of the national uprising in response to the murder of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old girl from Saqez, by the morality police in Tehran. Abdollahi was released on December 5, 2022, after 21 days in prison.
November 16, 2022
Iranian security forces arrested Iranian journalist Fahimeh Nazari. Nazari is a freelance reporter who covers local politics and history for numerous newspapers and magazines. According to HRANA, she was arrested in her office in Tehran.
November 27, 2022
Maryam Vahidian, a freelance reporter contributing to Shargh Daily, was arrested from her home in Tehran in the evening, according to reports from HRANA and Shargh Daily. Vahidian had been reporting on labor issues and the country’s workers’ movement. Her laptop, phone, and other personal devices were confiscated. She was released after one month in custody. On April 15, 2023 Vahidian was summoned to appear in Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court.
Iranian security forces also arrested Nastaran Farokheh at her home. They confiscated her laptop and phone, as well as the phones of her family members, Shargh said on its website. The reason for the arrest is not clear yet. She has since been released on bail.
December 17, 2022
Ziba Omidifar was arrested in Qorveh and was transferred to the Sanandaj Revolutionary Guard Intelligence. Omidifar, reporter of Kurdpress News Agency in Qorveh, was taken to Kausar Hospital in Sanandaj by IRGC security forces on the morning of December 24, a week after being arrested and transferred to the detention center of IRGC Intelligence Organization in Sanandaj. According to informed sources, this Kurdish journalist was tortured and harassed during a week of detention, and her level of consciousness decreased drastically. According to hospital personnel, Ziba Omidifar should be immediately returned to the detention center after initial treatment.
December 18, 2022
according to HRANA, security forces arrested the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reporter Maryam Ghannad in Tehran and detained her in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. An informed source close to her family told HRANA that she was once allowed a short call informing her family that she is held in Ward 209 of Evin Prison. The reason for her arrest and the charges are still unknown. Ghannad has since been released on bail.
January 10, 2023
It was reported that journalist Nasim Sultan Beygi was arrested at Tehran’s international airport while attempting to flee the country. She was then transferred to an undisclosed location. Accusations against the journalist were not revealed. Beygi was later released on bail after a month of detention. On April 27, 2023 she was summoned at Evin's Moghaddasi Courthouse on charges of "propaganda against the system." Once again, on July 3, 2023, Beygi was summoned to court to confront the identical charges levied against her. On July 31, 2023, Beygi received a prison sentence of four years and three months for reporting on social media and on charges of "assembly and collusion" and propagating against the Islamic Republic.
January 22, 2023
It was reported that writer and journalist, Saeideh Shafiei was arrested by the security forces in her personal home in Tehran and taken to an unknown place. There is no information about the reasons for her arrest and the arresting body. Shafiei was later released on bail. According to HRANA, on April 27, 2023, the journalist was summoned to Evin's Moghaddasi Courthouse. She was given five days to prepare her defense. On July 3, 2023, Shafiei found herself once again summoned to confront baseless charges lodged against her. On July 31, 2023, Shafiei received a prison sentence of four years and three months for reporting on social media and on charges of "assembly and collusion" and propagating against the Islamic Republic.
On the same day, January 22, 2023, authorities in the Islamic Republic detained another journalist named Melika Hashemi after summoning her for "explanations." Hashemi worked for Shahr or City news agency.
Mehrnoosh Zarei Henzaki, a Tehrani journalist, was also arrested on the morning of January 22 in her personal home in Tehran and transferred to Evin prison. There is no information about the reasons for her arrest. On February 15, 2023, Henzaki was released from Evin prison. On April 27, 2023, she was asked to appear at Evin's Moghaddasi Courthouse within five days to present her défense. On July 3, Henzaki was once again subjected to trial at Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court, facing charges of "propaganda" and "national security." On July 31, 2023, Henzaki was acquitted of all charges against her.
March 15, 2023
Journalist Sepideh Gholian was immediately re-arrested hours after being released from Evin prison where she served four years behind bars.
April 11, 2023
Journalist and prominent human rights defender, Golrokh Iraee, was handed a six-year prison sentence by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court. The charges against her included "gathering and colluding against national security" and "producing propaganda against the state." Additionally, she was subjected to a one-year prison term. In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a two-year travel ban, a prohibition on residing in Tehran, and a two-year ban on participating in political and social groups. The verdict was primarily based on her involvement in protests and her social media posts concerning protesters who were either arrested or killed during the demonstrations that commenced in September 2022. IIraee made an announcement on June 19, 2023, stating that she will not seek a pardon. She firmly believes that she has been targeted solely because of her journalism and human rights advocacy. Additionally, she declared that she will not participate in the court of appeals proceedings as she does not acknowledge the revolutionary court as a competent or impartial judicial entity.
June 7, 2023
Atena Farghadani, an award-winning artist, was taken into custody at Evin Prison in Tehran after posting a satirical political cartoon on her Instagram account. Farghadani had responded to a summons to appear at the prison's courthouse before her arrest. It remains unclear why she was summoned and subsequently arrested, and whether any formal charges have been filed against her.
August 17, 2023
The General Intelligence Office of Gilan Province, affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Corps intelligence organization, released a statement announcing the arrest of 12 people. Among the arrested were journalists Jelveh Javaheri, Elaheh Asgari, and photojournalist Matin Yazdani. The report claims the arrested allegedly planned to disrupt security.
September 2, 2023
Journalist Negin Bagheri was sentenced to a three-year partly suspended prison term for charges of "conspiracy and collusion." She will serve approximately one month in prison.
Concerned Voices
