Iran: Sara Massoumi Sentenced to Prison

Journalist sentenced to 6 months behind bars for social media post criticizing government's handling of teenager's death

Location: Iran, Tehran
Date: December 20, 2023

Sara Massoumi, editor in chief of Iranian Diplomacy news site was sentenced to six months in prison and given a two-year media ban for a social media post criticizing the government's response to the death of a teenage girl. This persecution of the journalist is the most recent manifestation of the Iranian regime's ruthless assault on press freedom, which intensified in the wake of last year's protests. The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom expresses its solidarity with Sara Massoumi and all journalists who face unjust penalties for carrying out their professional obligations. We urge the international community to prioritize these cases during negotiations with Iran.

Sara Massoumi, a former reporter for the reformist news outlet Etemad, has been sentenced to six months behind bars for an October social media post regarding the death of a 16-year-old teenager. Armita Geravand entered a subway car in Tehran on October 1 and disappeared seconds later. She fell into a coma, and state television reported on October 28 that she had died from brain damage.

The circumstances surrounding Geravand's death remain disputed. While a friend told state television that she had hit her head, activists abroad have alleged that she may have been attacked for not wearing the hijab. 

Massoumi's post on social media following Geravand's death implied that the government had concealed the truth and suggested foul play. However, the platform she used, X, has long been banned in Iran. Nevertheless, government officials frequently use the platform, and Iranian citizens can access it through virtual private networks (VPNs). Massoumi has nearly 50,000 followers on X.

The journalist was charged with publishing lies and propaganda against the government. Her lawyer, Ali Mojtahedzadeh, confirmed the conviction to Shargh Daily and criticized the violation of Massoumi's journalistic rights. He called on Iran's chief justice to intervene. The start date for Massoumi to commence serving her sentence has not been determined yet.

Iran has a history of limited press freedom, with much of the country's media under government control. Independent journalists face constant persecution, including arbitrary arrests and severe sentences following unfair trials, according to Reporters Without Borders.

The situation has deteriorated further since widespread anti-government protests erupted in September of last year. The protests began after the alleged beating death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman, over her hijab. Iranian journalists have faced prosecution for their coverage of Amini's death. In October, two women journalists, Elahe Mohammadi and Niloofar Hamedi, were each sentenced to over 10 years in prison for their reporting on Amini's death.

Geravand's case has drawn comparisons to Amini's in international media. Protests over Amini's death lasted for several months but subsided earlier this year. Some Iranian journalists have been detained for reporting on the case and others have claimed that the government imposed a ban on reporting Geravand's death, as reported by Iran International.

CFWIJ has been diligently monitoring and documenting the instances of censorship and the blatant disregard for press freedom by the Iranian regime.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom firmly supports Sara Massoumi and strongly condemns her sentencing. We demand her immediate and unconditional acquittal. We call upon the international community to prioritize the cases of journalists when engaging with Iran.

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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