Committee to Protect Journalists Calls for 'Unconditional' Release of Nazila Maroufian, Investigative Journalist

Following the arrest of Nazila Maroufian, a critical journalist by security forces, the 'Committee to Protect Journalists' issued a statement condemning this action and calling for the 'unconditional' release of this journalist. The 'Committee to Protect Journalists' stated that one of Nazila Maroufian's acquaintances, who spoke to the committee on the condition of anonymity, reported that she has had no contact with her family, friends, or colleagues since her arrest on Saturday, July 8. Simultaneously, the 'Committee to Protect Journalists' condemned these actions and demanded the immediate release of Nazila Maroufian and the dismissal of all charges against her. According to the report, Nazila Maroufian had previously been arrested in November 2022 for 'covering' anti-government protests and was released on bail in January 2023. The report from the 'Committee to Protect Journalists' indicates that this investigative journalist was later convicted in absentia on charges of 'propaganda and spreading false news' and is awaiting summons to serve her sentence. This journalism student at Allameh Tabatabai University has faced pressure in recent months due to her accounts of encounters with security and law enforcement officers. Security and judicial officials of the Islamic Republic have faced severe criticism from the international community for their treatment of journalists, with at least 95 journalists arrested following the protests over Mahsa Amini last year. According to a census by the 'Committee to Protect Journalists', Iran was recognized as the 'worst jail for journalists in the world' in 2022. Concerns about the situation of Tomaj Salehi, Armita Abbasi, and Nazila Maroufian are prevalent on social media.