Journalists arrest continues in Iran amid deadly unrest
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Over a dozen journalists reporting the deadly protests in Iran have been arrested, press freedom organizations said on Monday while calling for their immediate release.
Internet blackouts swept Iran and over a dozen journalists have been arrested over the coverage of the protests that engulfed Iran since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa (Zhina) Amini on September 16 after her arrest by the so-called morality police reportedly for not wearing the hijab properly.
“Fourteen journalists have been detained amid national protests following the death of Mahsa Amini,” the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said in a statement, urging “Iranian authorities to immediately release the reporters and restore the free flow of information.”
The New York-based The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) put the toll of arrested journalists to 18, citing sources from the ground in Iran.
“Iranian authorities must immediately release all journalists arrested because of their coverage of Mahsa Amini’s death and the protests that have followed,” said CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator Sherif Mansour.
“Iranian security forces must drop their repressive measures against the journalists telling this critical story and restore the internet access that is vital to keep the public informed.”
Among the arrested reporters is Shargh Daily reporter Niloofar Hamedi who was among the first journalists to report Amini’s hospitalization, reported CPJ. She was detained on Thursday.
Hamedi’s husband, Mohammed Hossein Ajorlou broke his silence and turned to twitter to shed light on his wife’s arrest, saying he was finally allowed a short phone call with her on Monday.
She is held in Iran’s notorious Evin prison.
“Before noon on Thursday, the agents of the Ministry of Information raided our house and arrested my wife (Niloofar Hamedi) and after searching the house, they seized all the electronic devices of both of us, including mobile phones and laptops,” he wrote.
Amini’s death sparked outrage across Iran and the international community.
Women have cut their hair and set fire to their headscarves. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution it has become mandatory by law for women to wear hijab in Iran.
Scores of protestors have been killed and many others have been reportedly injured and arrested. The European Union slammed the use of force against protestors, calling it “unjustifiable” and “unacceptable.”
Amini’s father and eyewitnesses say she was beaten inside a police vehicle while in the custody of Iranian security forces, leading to her death.
By Zheen Saman