Continued Pressure on the Media Community; Three Female Journalists Summoned to Court

Amid ongoing pressure on journalists, especially female reporters, Saeedeh Shafiei, Mehrnoush Zarei Hanzaki, and Nasim Soltan Beigi, three journalists residing in Tehran, have been summoned to Evin Prosecutor's Office through separate notifications to present their final defense. The news agency of the Human Rights Activists in Iran reported that based on the notifications issued separately and delivered to these individuals on May 5, they have been asked to appear within five days from the date of notification for their final defense at Evin Prosecutor's Office. According to reports, the charges against these journalists include 'propaganda against the regime,' with various writings of theirs cited as instances of this accusation. Nasim Soltan Beigi was arrested by IRGC intelligence agents at the airport while attempting to leave the country on January 21, 2023, and was transferred to Evin Prison. She was eventually released on bail on February 6, 2023, pending the conclusion of legal proceedings. Saeedeh Shafiei, a journalist and author of the books 'Daughter of the Twist' and 'Gorokhano Station,' was arrested by security forces in Tehran on February 1, 2023, and released on bail on February 18, 2023. Mehrnoush Zarei Hanzaki, who has previously worked with news agencies such as ILNA, Iska, Chaleh Chrag, and Ana, was also arrested by security forces in Tehran on February 1, 2023, and subsequently transferred to the IRGC detention center known as Ward 2-A of Evin Prison. This journalist, who suffers from migraines, was deprived of access to her medications during her detention and was eventually released from Evin Prison in late February 2023. Simultaneously, on May 6, the judiciary finally announced the charges against Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammad, who had been in temporary detention for seven months, as 'collaboration with the United States' and reported the referral of their case to the Islamic Revolutionary Court. Niloufar Hamedi, a journalist for Shargh newspaper, and Elahe Mohammad, a journalist for Ham-Mihan newspaper, were arrested and imprisoned following their coverage of the news related to the death of Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the morality police. The International Federation of Journalists issued a statement on Tuesday, May 5, calling for the release of Keyvan Samimi and all imprisoned journalists in Iran. Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammad were accused of 'collaboration with the United States.' The International Federation of Journalists stated: 'Free Keyvan Samimi and other imprisoned journalists.' 200 days of detention for the crime of informing; Ham-Mihan: Journalists are not spies. The continued uncertainty for Elahe Mohammad; the defense attorney is not allowed access to the legal case. Niloufar Hamedi's 'temporary' detention has exceeded '200 days.' Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammad won the 'Conscience and Integrity in Journalism' award from Harvard.