Amjad Amini: Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi Became the 'Voice of Our Voiceless Mahsa'

Amjad Amini, the father of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, says that Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, two journalists from Shargh and Ham-Mihan newspapers, became the 'voice of our voiceless Mahsa.' On Thursday, November 3, he wrote in an Instagram story addressing the two journalists who have been summoned to serve a five-year prison sentence: 'You shouted the truth that they wanted to conceal with your pen.' He further referred to Ms. Hamedi and Ms. Mohammadi as 'pioneers of freedom' and 'flag bearers of justice,' writing: 'I understand the suffering and hardship of the two years you endured in the most difficult conditions in detention and I admire your courage.' The lawyers of Niloufar Hamedi, a journalist from Shargh newspaper, announced on October 28 that this journalist had been summoned to Evin Prison to serve her five-year sentence. The Telegram channel of Ham-Mihan newspaper also reported a similar ruling for Elahe Mohammadi, a journalist from this newspaper, on the same day. Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi were arrested following their coverage of Mahsa Amini's death in custody of the morality police and her burial in September 2021. After more than a year of temporary detention, they were sentenced to long prison terms in a court presided over by Judge Salavati. The Tehran Court of Appeals converted the bail of these two journalists to 10 billion tomans each last December, and they were temporarily released. A Twitter storm for Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi; 'The narrators of the truth do not belong in prison.' The lawyers of Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi emphasized in separate interviews on October 23 that their clients are subject to the 'amnesty directive announced in 2022.' However, the judiciary announced that due to the publication of images without compulsory hijab by Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi after their temporary release from prison, a new case has been opened against these two journalists. The spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary stated on October 22 that the five-year prison sentence for Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi will be enforced. Asghar Jahangir announced that these two journalists, who were arrested during the 'unrest following Mahsa Amini's death,' were sentenced to five years in prison for 'colluding and conspiring against national security' and one year for 'propaganda against the regime.'