Along with more than 35 other people, Keyvan Samimi was arrested while taking part in a peaceful protest in front of the Iranian Parliament in Teheran. On Labour Day, demonstrators were marching for the right to establish independent labour organisations, among other demands.
The chief editor of Iran Farda magazine, Samimi has already served six years in jail from 2009 to 2015 following the 2009 elections. On 12th May, the authorities took him to his magazine’s office, where they searched documents and seized electronic devices, the activist Taghi Rahmani said.
A reporter with Shargh newspaper, Marzieh Amiri was arrested the following day while trying to get some news about those arrested on Labour Day. She is being held in Evin prison and has been forbidden to see her lawyer.
According to the AoIJ six journalists are currently in jail in Iran - Afarin Chitsaz, Hengameh Shahidi, Kiomars Marzban, Pouya Khoshhal as well as Keyvan Samimi and Marzieh Amiri.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “We condemn the authorities’ repressive attitude towards journalists on Labour Day. Keyvan Samimi and Marzieh Amiri have now been detained arbitrarily for three weeks, only because they defended the fundamental right of expression, each in their own way. They must be released immediately, as well as the four other journalists currently behind bars.”