On September 18, the minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Mahdi Esmaili announced the government’s intention to set up an accreditation system for journalists. Although no further details or specific dates have been made public by the authorities, if the proposal progresses, no journalist will be allowed to practice the profession without a government licence.
It is not the first time the Iranian government has tried to create an accreditation system for journalists. In 2013, the executive introduced a Bill intended to do this. However, it was never submitted to the Parliament, after protests from the journalistic community. At present, the governmentappears determined to progress its proposal without parliamentary approval.
The head of Tehran’s Province Journalists’ Association (TPJA) Akbar Montajabi told reformist Shargh newspaper in an article: "I am in favour of issuing licences to journalists, not by the government, but by trade associations, just like trade associations issue licences for cinematographers and visual artists, which is a step towards strengthening civil institutions". Montajabi added: "The government is not in such a position to determine who is a journalist and who is not”.
Shargh newspaper stated that “it is clear from the tone [of the proposal] that officials have a plan to control journalism.”
The news came a few days after the first anniversary of Mahsa/Jina Amini’s death, on 16 September, that triggered widespread protests and a brutal repression on journalists and media covering these events. At least 100 journalists have been arrested and imprisoned in Iran in the past year, revealed an IFJ report (here) published on September 15, 2023.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “The licensing system that the Islamic Republic is planning, that will fall under the total control of the Iranian government, seeks to further tighten its grip on journalists. We totally oppose its implementation and remind the Iranian authorities of their international obligations towards human rights and freedom of speech. Journalism is not a crime and the Islamic Republic must release all jailed journalists and media workers in the country.”
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.