The suspicious death of Mahsa Amini, a 22 year-old Iranian girl, on 16 September 2022, triggered widespread and unprecedented protests in Iran. Videos posted on social media have shown Iranian girls and women defiantly removing or even burning their headscarves and chanting "Woman, life, freedom".
Thousands of protestors have been killed and injured in the streets since 16 September 2022, and many were arrested and imprisoned. Meanwhile, the suppression of the media and arrest of journalists and the pressure on media workers has increased significantly.
The IFJ report records that at least 100 journalists have been arrested and imprisoned in Iran in the past year. Many received long sentences or were forced to leave their jobs. At least eight media outlets have faced restrictions due to pressure from security institutions or government. More than 20 journalists have been sentenced to prison on charges such as producing propaganda against the regime and acting against the country's security.
The issue of summoning whereby journalists are being ordered by judiciary authorities or security forces to come for interrogations has increased dramatically in the last year, with over 110 journalists being summoned.
At least 20 journalists have been exiled due to arrests, summonses, and long-term prison sentences, the report says.
To date, six journalists are still being held unfairly in prison.
1- Mrs Niloofar Hamedi, a journalist and reporter at Shargh newspaper, was arrested at her home in Tehran on 22 September 2022.
2- Mrs Elahe Mohammadi, a journalist and reporter at Hammihan newspaper, was arrested at her home in Tehran on 23 September 2022.
3- Mr Rebawa Saidmohamadi, a Sahar TV journalist, was arrested last year after returning from Iraqi Kurdistan and sentenced to seven years in jail.
4- Mr Kamyar Fakoor, the Khabaronline labour reporter, has been in jail since 9 May 2023 and is serving a nine-month jail term.
5- Mr Ali Moslehi, a Local journalist in Kashan city, was arrested on 29 July in his home.
6- Mrs Vida Rabani, a freelance journalist at Shargh newspaper, was arrested on 24 September 2022 at her home in Tehran; she went on medical leave on 21 June 2023 and returned to Evin prison on 2 September 2023 again.
The IFJ has repeatedly condemned attacks against and arrests of journalists, calling on the Iranian authorities to drop all charges against them.