Dismissal of Two Journalists from Iran Newspaper Following Criticism of Resigned Sports Minister

Two days after Ebrahim Raisi claimed that 'we have guaranteed freedom of expression and the press,' news sources reported that two journalists were dismissed from the state-owned newspaper following 'criticism of the sports minister.' According to HRANA, the media organ of human rights activists in Iran, on Thursday, August 10, it was reported that the dismissal of Azadeh Pirakouh and Mohsen Ajarlou, journalists working at Iran newspaper, occurred 'following the publication of a critical article' about Hamid Sajadi, the former Minister of Sports and Youth. The report noted that the dismissal of these two journalists coincided with Journalist Day in Iran. On August 5, another journalist named Hassan Abbasi was summoned by the cyber police in Bandar Abbas for 'criticizing' the head of the Iran Chamber of Commerce. Iran newspaper, on August 5, published a note titled 'Goodbye to the Mistaken Minister' by Mohsen Ajarlou, criticizing Hamid Sajadi, calling him 'one of the strangest' ministers in Iran's history, whose 'only notable characteristic was having a photo in sports shorts,' and stated that 'his two-year presence, if it did not benefit sports, perhaps benefited himself.' The note also indicated that Sajadi became a minister with the help of 'powerful factions' and due to 'good fortune' and that 'the government had no other prominent option at hand' and 'he should have understood that he was not worthy of this position.' According to the sports news site 'Footbali,' on the same day following the publication of this note, Mohammad Hassan Roozitalab, the editor-in-chief of Iran newspaper, sent a text message to the former sports minister calling the published note 'an incorrect and false article' and apologized to him, stating: 'We will certainly rectify this issue in tomorrow's issue.' This sports media also wrote that despite the author's attempts to absolve the government of the weaknesses during Sajadi's ministerial period, it is unacceptable that 'Sajadi reached a cabinet that its statesmen did not want him.' The dismissal of these two journalists has faced criticism from some media figures, and some journalists who have previously experienced dismissal from newspapers have reacted to it. Milad Fadaei-Asal, the husband of journalist Saba Shahrooddoost, reacted to a tweet from journalist Mohammad Reza Zamordian, stating that he 'forgot' that in 2012 when Saba Shahrooddoost was summoned by the Ministry of Intelligence, 'he prevented her from returning to her workplace with disrespectful behavior' and 'her belongings were put in a bag and handed to her at the door.' Saba Shahrooddoost also recounted her own dismissal, stating, 'When I returned from the Ministry of Intelligence's follow-up office, I was not even allowed inside the office to collect my belongings. They said Mr. Zamordian instructed not to let you in; I don't have the patience to beg. I was dismissed by his direct order. Now it seems the tables have turned.' Voice of America cannot independently verify reports regarding these dismissals and the reasons for them, as well as the above statements. The dismissal of these two journalists from the state newspaper comes at a time when Ebrahim Raisi has claimed, 'We have guaranteed freedom of expression and the press,' and that 'legitimate freedoms' in Iran are 'guaranteed.' Additionally, more than 100 Iranian journalists are in detention; Raisi has stated: 'We have guaranteed freedom of expression and the press.' In the second half of 2022, dozens of journalists were arrested in Iran, and some of them, including Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, are still in prison. The U.S. State Department has stated that the prosecution of Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi, who played a role in reporting the death of Mahsa Amini, is aimed at 'intimidating journalists in Iran' and has announced that the United States is monitoring their situation and the world is witnessing human rights violations in Iran. Pressure on the media has reached the point of dismissing employees from the state newspaper, while previously a journalist inside Iran told the Persian section of Voice of America that 'pressures on the media in Iran' have 'intensified significantly' following nationwide protests in the second half of 2022, and the Islamic Republic's expectation from the media is 'to produce propaganda bulletins' and due to 'critical analyses,' they are pressured under vague titles such as 'blackening.' The Iranian Writers' Association stated that August 7 is an important page in the history of censorship and repression in Iran. The Tehran Journalists' Syndicate expressed concern about the dire situation of journalism in Iran. Journalist Day and 'symbolic appreciation' of 'loyal' journalists; independent journalists are detained or under pressure. Two journalists were sentenced to more than four years in prison and two years of exit ban from Iran. Turbulent days of journalism in Iran; the trial of a journalist from Qom was held.