Iran: Heavy cost of resistance— Eight women journalists and activists arrested in the last 48 hours

Location: Iran, Tehran  
Date: September 24, 2022

Iran has wrestled with waves of protests after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained and beaten by the so-called “morality police” for violating the country's hijab law on September 16, 2022. In the last 48 hours, at least eight women journalists and activists were arrested by police and taken to unknown locations. The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands immediate release of journalists.

Since protests started over death of Mahsa Amini, Iranians are taking to the streets to protest the Iranian regime and ruthless trampling of women's rights and equality. Iranian women  burn their hijabs while dancing and protest the state oppression that has been going on for almost 43 years. Women journalists are reporting these protests in the field despite the Internet shutdown in the country. 

One of these journalists, Yalda Moaiery was arrested by Iranian security forces on September 19, 2022. A reknowned photojournalist, Yalda, was physically assaulted as she was arrested along with other women protesters. She is in a jail in Tehran, while family members have not been allowed to see her, adding that police officers said “she may be released in two weeks”, according to her brother.

Those arrested also include Shargh Daily journalist Nilufar Hamidi on September 21, 2022. Iranian police raided her home and arrested Nilufar. She was first to report on Mahsa Amini whose death sparked country-wide protests.

On September 22, 2022, Elahe Mohammadi, a reporter with the state-run Hammihan Daily was arrested. According to her lawyer’s tweet, the security officers broke the door and entered Elahe’s house. After a two-hour search of the house, they sized her personal items including mobile phones, laptops, licensed books, manuscripts, and her identity documents such as her press card. Andishepouya Magazine’s political reporter, Elnaz Mohammadi was also arrested after her sister, Elahe.

امروز بعد از ظهر مأموران امنیتی با شکستن در، وارد خانه موکلم #الهه_محمدی، خبرنگار روزنامه هم میهن، شده و پس از تفتیش دو ساعته منزل، وسایلی مانند موبایل، لپتاپ، کتابهای مجوزدار، دست نوشته ها و اوراق هویتی او مانند کارت خبرنگاری را توقیف کردند. pic.twitter.com/W51zlb8ifi

— محمدعلی کامفیروزی (@Kamfirouzi) September 22, 2022

On September 23, 2022, Fatemeh Rajabi, economics reporter, was arrested after Iranian police raided her home in Tehran. CFWIJ’s sources on the ground say her whereabouts remain unknown which raises huge concerns for her safety. On the same day, activist Haniye Daemi, sister of Atena Daemi, was also arrested along with her husband. Security forces beat up Haniye and took her to an unknown location. 

Journalist Vida Rabbani, who was sentenced to prison on June 30, was arrested after escalating protests started. She was arrested by security forces on November 23, 2020, and transferred to Evin Prison. On December 20, 2020, Vida was released on bail.

According to CPJ, political reporter Zahra Tohidi is also among arrested journalists by Iranian agencies on September 24, 2022.

With the arrests of Yalda Moaiery, Nilufar Hamidi, Elahe Mohammadi, Elnaz Mohammadi, Fatemeh Rajabi, Haniye Daemi, Vida Rabbani and Zahra Tohidi, Iran rises to the top jailer with at least 22 women journalists currently behind bars. Raha (Raheleh) Askari Zadeh, Mojgan Sayami, Sepideh Qoliyan, Zoreh Sarve, Nada Sabouri, Shabnam Ashaouri, Aliyeh Motallebzadeh, Nooshin Jafari, Rahil Mousavi, Firoozeh Khosravani, Mina Keshavarz, Reyhaneh Taravati, Shilan Assadi and Zeynab Jalalian are still behind bars for several years. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands journalists’ immediate release and concerns about their safety. Crackdown on press is getting harsher in the country. Unproportional force and violation darken freedom of speech in Iran. We call on Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to stop trying to suppress a nation's rebellion by using the most severe form of violence. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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