International Women's Media Foundation Calls Iranian Female Journalists Symbols of Courage

Elisa Munoz, Executive Director of the International Women's Media Foundation, described female journalists in Iran as symbols of courage and condemned their imprisonment for their profession. Referring to the 2023 Wallis Annenberg Award for "Justice for Female Journalists" awarded by the International Women's Media Foundation to Yalda Moayeri from Iran, she stated: "She and other imprisoned female journalists in Iran are incredibly brave journalists, and it is very regrettable that they are not only imprisoned in their own country while covering the changes in their society but also subjected to beatings." Ms. Munoz also told Voice of America: "We truly feel that these journalists do not receive the attention they deserve, as these women are targeted not as part of the public protests in Iran but because of their work and their gender." The Executive Director of the International Women's Media Foundation expressed serious concern over reports of sexual assault against women in Iranian prisons and called for greater and more practical attention from international organizations to female prisoners, especially journalists in Iran. According to media rights organizations, at least 95 journalists have been detained in Iran since September 2022, with at least 24 of these detained journalists being women. Iran has now become the largest prison for journalists and female journalists in the world. Yalda Moayeri, 41, who was arrested at the beginning of the nationwide protests in Iran, has now been sentenced to six years in prison, two years of social media ban, and three years of prohibition from journalism. Ten days ago, she received the "Courage in Journalism" award from the International Women's Media Foundation. Reyhaneh Ansarinezhad was sentenced to four years in prison, and Reza Mohammadi has been deprived of contact with his family by the order of the head of Evin prison. Amnesty International stated that the Iranian government must be held accountable for the repression of opponents of compulsory hijab. The coup by the Niger presidential guard against Mohamed Bazoum has been condemned by the United States, the African Union, and France. All charges were dismissed in court; Elaheh Mohammadi stated: "I am proud to have stood with my people."