Iran: Six journalists arrested and internet shutdowns

Six media workers have been arrested by the security forces in Iran amid national protests following the death in detention of a young woman on 16 september. Several internet shutdowns and social media blockage have also been reported throughout the country. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) urges Iranian authorities to immediately release the reporters and journalists and to restore the free flow of information.

A picture obtained by AFP outside Iran on September 21, 2022, shows Iranian demonstrators taking to the streets of the capital Tehran during a protest for Mahsa Amini, days after she died in police custody.

The nationwide protests erupted across dozens of major cities in Iran after a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, died in detention of the Morality Police of Tehran.

Security forces arrested Shargh newspaper journalist Nilofar Hamedi on 22 September. Hamedi was one of the first reporters on the scene reporting on Mahsa Amini's situation in Tehran hospital before she died. 

Award winning female photographer Yalda Moayeri was arrested on 20 september in Tehran and transferred to the Qarchak prison in the south of the capital.  The Tehran Province Journalists Association (TPJA) issued a statement demanding her release and said Moayeri was reporting on Tehran streets when she was arrested.

Editor of the Mukrian news agency Masoud Kordpur and his brother Khosro were also arrested following their reporting on the death of Mahsa Amini and their coverage of the protests in Iran.

Hengaw human rights organizations also reported the arrests of reporters Marzieh Talaee and Khatibzadeh.

Mobile networks have been largely shut down and internet disruption was reported in several cities. Global internet monitor Netblocks has qualified the blocking in Iran as " the most severe internet restrictions since the November 2019 massacre.".

 

IFJ General secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “We urge Iranian authorities not to use the coverage of national protests as an excuse to muzzle the press. Every citizen in Iran has the right to know what is going on. Our colleagues must be released immediately and allowed to report freely. We also call on the authorities to immediately restore the free flow of information on the Iranian territory. “

For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 16

The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 146 countries

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