Iran: State Ramps Up Arrests Of Women Journalists To Quash Mass Protests Sparked By Mahsa Amini’s Death In Police Custody
Location: Iran, Tehran
Date: October 11, 2022
Saba Sherdoost
*This report is updated on Oct 24, 2022.
Women. Life. Freedom. Chanting these words protesters have taken to the streets in Iran, demanding an end to state-sponsored oppression of women in the country. An alarming number of women journalists and activists have been arrested since demonstrations broke out after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained and beaten by Iranian morality police for violating the country's hijab law on September 16, 2022. The arrested journalists have been taken to undisclosed locations with details surrounding their imprisonment unclear due to continuous obstruction of information channels, including Internet services and social media, by the authorities. The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with the women of Iran. We condemn the arrests of journalists and demand their immediate release.
The country witnessed yet another daunting week for press freedom, free speech and women’s rights as the regime continues to push back against Iranian people calling for women’s liberty. As of October 11, the CFWIJ has documented as many as 15 arrests of women journalists. The number is expected to grow as the situation between protesters and state forces intensifies. The judiciary has approved “preventative arrests” enabling the state to further escalate its onslaught against protestors.
Iran, which stood as the worst jailer of women journalists according to our data even before Mahsa’s death triggered unrest, now has a staggering total of 31 women journalists and media workers incarcerated. Read on below to learn more about women journalists arrested in the past month for reporting on events that led to, and followed, Mahsa’s horrific death.
This list, current as of October 11, is based on information compiled from local media reports, the Tehran Journalists Association and the Committee to Protect Journalists’ sources based in Iran as well as the CFWIJ’s own sources. We will regularly be updating this list to record confirmed arrests and releases.
1. Saba Sherdost, a freelance reporter, was arrested October 10 from her home in Tehran. Her husband, Milad Fadaei-Asl, also a journalist, was arrested along with her.
2. Mehrnoosh Tafian, a freelance political reporter, was arrested from the southwestern city of Ahvaz, in the majority Arab province Khuzestan, according to exile-run IranWire and CPJ sources.
3. Safiyeh Qarabaghi, a freelance reporter who covers women’s issues in her hometown of Zanjan, was arrested on October 1, according to a tweet by her husband, who said she was taken to an undisclosed location. (Released on bail)
4. Sepideh Salarvand, an award-winning documentary maker, was arrested from her Tehran home on October 3. Her most recent project focused on Afghan child laborers in Iran.
5. Elmira Bahmani, freelance reporter, commentator and columnist on women’s rights issues, was arrested on September 26 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.
6. Batol Balali, a reporter with the state-run Pasargad weekly magazine, was arrested on September 22 from the southern city of Sirjan, in Kerman province, while covering protests in her hometown. Ashkan News, a local news website based in Kerman, reported that she was taken to Sirjan central prison. (Released on bail)
7. Samira Alinejad, a reporter with the state-run local news website SirjanRavi News, was also arrested while covering the same September 22 demonstration in the southern city of Sirjan, according to Ashkan News. She was being held in Sirjan central prison.
8. Elahe Mohammadi, a reporter with state-run Hammihan Daily was arrested on September 22. Her lawyer, Kamfirouzi, tweeted that security forces broke down the entrance door to her home and seized her personal equipment, including laptop, phone, book, manuscripts and press card.
9. Yalda Moaiery was arrested on September 19. A renowned photojournalist, Yalda 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.
10. Nilufar Hamidi, a journalist with Tehran-based semi-reformist Shargh Daily, was arrested on September 21 from her home. She was the first to report on Mahsa's hospitalization, according to IranWire. A tweet posted by her lawyer, Mohammad-Ali Kamfirouzi, confirmed that she is 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.
11. Elnaz Mohammadi, political reporter with partially state-run bi-monthly Andishepouya magazine and Elahe’s twin sister, was also arrested.
12. Fatemeh Rajabi, an economics reporter, was arrested from her home in Tehran on September 23. CFWIJ’s sources on ground said her whereabouts could not be immediately ascertained. (Released on bail)
13. Vida Rabbani, a political commentator, was sentenced recently to 10 years and four months in prison and banned from practicing journalism.
14. Zahra Tohidi, a political reporter, was reportedly taken by security forces. Details surrounding her arrest could not be immediately ascertained.
15. Sarvenaz Ahmadi, freelance political and cultural reporter, was arrested by security forces and recently released after days in detention. (Released on bail)
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the arrests of women journalists in Iran. We denounce the state’s persistent infringement on press freedom and women’s rights. Disruption of Internet services and information channels is extremely worrying, especially in light of the regime’s violent retaliation to protestors. At least 200 people, including 23 minors, have been reportedly killed since September 16. A female journalist, N.L, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the CFWIJ, that in the current situation, anyone and everyone resisting the regime is under threat. “It's not just women journalists who are in danger in Iran but all journalists. Even international and non-Iranian journalists are not welcome there. We know that all political prisoners, specifically journalists, undergo physical and mental torture in the Islamic Republic's prisons. We're worried, terrified, to be accurate, for their safety.” The CFWIJ stands in solidarity with the Iranian people and calls on the authorities to allow the press to report freely. The arrested journalists must immediately be released. We reiterate, the policing of women’s bodies and the trampling of their rights is unacceptable in any and all forms.
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