Organization 'Defending the Flow of Free Information': The Islamic Republic Prosecuted 91 Journalists, Media, and Media Activists in Three Months

The organization 'Defending the Flow of Free Information' has reported that in the first quarter of 2024, the Islamic Republic has prosecuted at least 91 journalists, media activists, and media outlets. This non-profit organization, established by a number of journalists, human rights researchers, and legal experts, emphasizes in its report that the Islamic Republic is working in a 'targeted' manner and in an 'extralegal' context to 'discredit' journalists and non-governmental media. According to the report, since the beginning of this year, 24 journalists and media directors, including seven women and 17 men, have been sentenced to a total of 14 years and seven months in prison, 99 million tomans in fines, two years of exile, four years of prohibition from practicing journalism, four years of prohibition from social media activities, and two years of exit ban from the country. The report states that during these three months, the Islamic Republic has violated the legal rights of journalists who were prosecuted in at least 95 cases. The number of judicial prosecutions of journalists and media directors in February 2024 has increased by 40 percent compared to the same period the previous month. The organization 'Defending the Flow of Free Information' states that publishing falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion has been the 'most frequently' raised accusation against journalists and media. This organization emphasizes that the report only includes data that could be collected, verified, and documented. Since the occurrence of nationwide protests in 2022 until the end of 2023, at least seven publications and news sites have been suspended, closed, or had their licenses revoked for reasons including 'pressure from security agencies or judicial orders.' The International Federation of Journalists reported on April 4 that at least 27 journalists and media activists were arrested, and 21 journalists were sentenced to a total of 60 years in prison in 2023 in Iran. Reporters Without Borders has classified the Islamic Republic as 'one of the most repressive governments in the world' in terms of media freedom and ranked Iran 177th out of 180 countries in terms of freedom of expression. According to this ranking, only three countries, Vietnam, China, and North Korea, are ranked lower than Iran.