After 16 months in jail, journalists Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloofar Hamed have been released from Evin prison on €400,000 bail, €200,000 each. The two women "will remain out of jail until the appeals court makes a decision" as stated by Tasnim news agency.
Following the footage of the two journalists coming out of jail, Iran’s judiciary court filed a new case against them as they were not wearing a hijab, which is compulsory for women in public spaces.
The two reporters were among the first ones to report on Mahsa Amini’s death and the nationwide protests that followed. After the events of September 2022, they were sentenced to six years and seven years in jail respectively by the Revolutionary Court. The court also added a further five years term to each of their sentences for “acting against the national security” and another year for propaganda activities.
Journalists all over the country have shared their joy on social media following the news of their release, reminding of all of those who are still unfairly detained for protesting. The two journalists were greatly welcomed outside of prison by friends, families and colleagues, with images and videos circulating on social media.
Amini’s father shared his congratulations with Mohammadi and Hamedi saying: "The news of your release, after 400 days of suffering in prison and being away from your family, brought joy to all of us.
IFJ president Dominique Pradalié said: "We welcome the release of our colleagues, Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, two brave women journalists, who had spent 16 months in jail for simply doing their job. We urge the Iranian authorities to drop all charges against them. Journalism is not a crime and the Islamic Republic must free all journalists and media workers that remain behind bars in the country."
To date, seven journalists are still being held unfairly in prison.
1- MrRebawa Saidmohamadi, a Sahar TV journalist, was arrested last year after returning from Iraqi Kurdistan and sentenced to seven years in jail.
2- Mr Kamyar Fakoor, the Khabaronline labour reporter, has been in jail since 9 May 2023 and is serving a nine-month jail term.
3- 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.
4- Mr Soltanali Abedi, editor in chief of the Diar Ayar website in Sistan and Balouchestan province, went to jail on 4 November 2023 to spend his one-year jail time.
5- Mrs Saideh Shafie, a freelance economic journalist, went to jail on 19 November 2023 for her 3-year and six-month sentence.
6- Mrs Nasim Soltanbeighi, a journalist at Nasim Bidari magazine, went to jail on 21 November 2023 for her three-year and six-month sentence.
7- Mr Ebrahim Rashidi, a freelance journalist in Meshin Shahr, was arrested on 1 January 2024 in his home by security forces.