The Mizan Information Company reported Monday that the Iranian judiciary had launched a brand new case in opposition to Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi following their release on bail. The 2 journalists appeared in entrance of a crowd outdoors the jail with out sporting the hijab, prompting these new prices.
Iranian authorities arrested Hamedi and Mohammadi in September of 2022, following protests over the demise of Mahsa Amini, who died following her detention for not complying with Iran’s necessary hijab guidelines. On the time, Iranian authorities stated that she had died as a consequence of a pre-existing well being situation, however this account was rejected, sparking nationwide protests. Each Hamedi and Mohammadi had labored for reformist publications, with Hamedi visiting the hospital whereas Amini was in a coma after which breaking the story about Amini’s demise, publishing photos of Amini’s mother and father mourning their daughter on the Tehran hospital the place she died. Police arrested her shortly after. Mohammadi labored for Ham-Mihan, a pro-reform day by day newspaper in Tehran, and traveled to Amini’s dwelling of Saqqez to report on the funeral and was arrested simply days later.
In October 2023, Department 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court docket sentenced Hamedi to 13 years in jail and Mohammadi to 12 on varied prices, together with collaboration with the US authorities, colluding to commit crimes in opposition to the nation’s safety and propaganda in opposition to the institution of the Islamic Republic of Iran. They’re presently interesting these sentences and have been launched on bail on Sunday, appearing in entrance of the jail to reunite with dozens of members of the family in a tearful reunion. Photographs and movies have been posted on social media celebrating the ladies. Lower than a day later, it was introduced that, as a result of they appeared unveiled, new prices have been being introduced in opposition to them.
Iran has arrested round 100 journalists because the protests started in 2022. Human Rights Watch reported on the state of affairs, stating that there was a “brutal repression of in style calls for for basic change” and that authorities have been engaged in “deadly and extreme pressure in opposition to protesters, arbitrary arrests of activists, journalists, and rights defenders, the torture and sexual assault of detainees, and executions of individuals after sham trials.”
