Hengaw: Nazila Maroufian, Journalist, Arrested Again

The human rights organization "Hengaw" reported on Saturday, July 8, the arrest of Nazila Maroufian, a journalist from Saqqez, after she appeared at the Evin Court. Last week, Nazila Maroufian tweeted that security agents had raided her home in Tehran, confiscating her personal belongings and demanding she appear at the Evin Court on Saturday. No details have yet been released regarding the reasons for her summons or the charges against this protesting journalist. Nazila Maroufian was previously arrested last November after an interview with Amjad Amini, the father of Mahsa Amini, and was sentenced to two years in prison, a fine of 15 million tomans, and a five-year travel ban. She was released on bail a few months later. The charges against this critical journalist included "propaganda against the regime" and "spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion through the publication of an interview with Mahsa Amini's father." This journalism student at Allameh Tabatabai University has faced pressure in recent months due to recounting her observations and experiences of encounters with law enforcement and security agents. Nevertheless, she believes that courage is "multipliable" and, by recounting the events around her on Twitter, urged her audience not to be afraid to "narrate the events that happen to us." The International Federation of Journalists recently reported an increase in pressure on journalists and media activists in Iran, with at least 15 journalists currently imprisoned. According to the latest report from Reporters Without Borders, Iran ranks 177th out of 180 countries in terms of media freedom, with only Vietnam, China, and North Korea ranking lower. Reporters Without Borders described the media freedom situation in Iran as "worrisome" and labeled the Islamic Republic as "one of the most repressive governments in the world." Concerns about the status of Tomaj Salehi, Armita Abbasi, and Nazila Maroufian have been raised on social media. Exclusive: Nazila Maroufian was beaten; "plainclothes agents" intended to arrest her. Nazila Maroufian was "dismissed" from her job due to recounting the "encounter with special forces." The Islamic Republic's efforts to criminalize information dissemination; journalism is not a crime. The International Federation of Journalists urged the Islamic Republic not to suppress the media under the pretext of protests.