HRANA: Government agents have transferred four journalists from 'Farday-e Eghtesad' to an 'unknown location'

News sources report that agents of the Islamic Republic have transferred four staff members of the media outlet 'Farday-e Eghtesad', who were arrested and imprisoned on Monday, February 5, from the editorial building to an 'unknown location' since Friday, February 10. According to reports on Sunday, February 12, there is no news about the fate of Mehrdad Asgari, Ali Tasnimi, and Nikan Khabbazi, journalists, and Behzad Bahmannejad, the deputy editor of 'Farday-e Eghtesad', and it is unclear where government agents have taken them from the editorial office. Maryam Shakirani, the economic editor of the newspaper Shargh, wrote on X that these individuals 'have not been in contact with their families so far', but Ali Mirzakhani, the editor-in-chief of this media outlet, 'has returned home.' Following the raid by Islamic Republic intelligence agents on the editorial office of 'Farday-e Eghtesad', which is a visual media outlet, government officials confiscated journalists' property and prevented them from leaving the building for several hours. Also see: Continuation of uncertainty regarding the status of 7 staff members and financial managers of 'Farday-e Eghtesad'. After that, a report of the arrest of Mehdi Afsharnik, an experienced journalist, was transmitted; a report that the media outlet 'Etemad Online' announced was 'probably' related to Wednesday, February 1. The Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary, claimed in response to the news of Mehdi Afsharnik's arrest that 'there are no media-related charges in this case', and the arrest of 'a former economic journalist' and 'the inspection of the office of a news website' that publishes economic news was carried out for 'reasons completely contrary to journalistic and media activities.' The official accounts of 'Farday-e Eghtesad' on social media have not been updated since noon on Monday, February 5. Also see: The judiciary considers the arrest of a journalist and the inspection of a media building unrelated 'to media activities'. The Islamic Republic has a history of group arrests and dealing with media activists. After the nationwide protests in 2022 in response to the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police, the Islamic Republic's crackdown on media activists has increased. The critical state of livelihood in Iran and economic and social pressures are cited as factors that have sparked a new wave of protests, and security institutions are trying to manage the situation in various ways. The government's prediction of worsening people's livelihoods; the Minister of Labor announced the continuation of livelihood assistance. The closure of Khamenei's accounts on Meta has been welcomed; users on X have requested: 'Elon Musk, it's your turn.' Global reactions to the visit of an American adult film actor to Iran; 'advertising' for the Islamic Republic. Widespread protests against the continued detention of Majid Takali; 'brave patriot' who is imprisoned 'for writing'. Nasrin Hassani, a journalist, was imprisoned on charges of 'spreading falsehoods' and not adhering to 'Sharia hijab'.