Over 100 Iranian Journalists Detained; Raisi: We Have Guaranteed Freedom of Expression and the Pen

While several Iranian journalists are imprisoned, Ebrahim Raisi claimed that "we have guaranteed freedom of expression and the pen" and that "legitimate freedoms" in Iran are also "guaranteed." This claim by the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran was made on Tuesday, August 8, coinciding with Journalist Day in Iran, while dozens of journalists are detained or have legal cases against them. Raisi also thanked those journalists who "strive to counter the enemy's news and media flow," stating that "the enemy's narrative is part of a media war and cognitive warfare." At the same time, Maryam Shakirani, the economic editor of Shargh newspaper, tweeted, "What does Journalist Day mean when the pen is in suffocation?" and added, "What does Journalist Day mean when you have handed over the field to corrupt government bulletins and every journalist who became the voice of their people has been pressured?" Additionally, Akbar Montajebi, head of the Tehran Province Journalists' Association, announced that "more than 100 journalists" have been detained in the past year, a number that has never been seen before. This journalist emphasized in statements published in Ham-Mihan newspaper that "the dark era of journalism has not ended" and that with "systemic uniformity," there is "the greatest pressure and focus" on the "detention, removal, and expulsion" of journalists. In the second half of 1401 (2022), dozens of journalists were detained in Iran, and some of them, including Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, remain in custody. The U.S. State Department has stated that the prosecution of Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi, who reported on the death of Mahsa Amini, aims to "intimidate journalists in Iran." A journalist residing in Iran previously told Voice of America that despite the "trend of removing dissenting journalists from the press and media" over the past decade, "independent streams relying on new tools" such as social media have paved the way for investigative and critical journalism, and a new spectrum of dissenting journalists has emerged from among the heavily controlled newspapers. Another journalist residing in Iran also told the Persian section of Voice of America that "pressures on the media in Iran" have significantly intensified following nationwide protests in the second half of 1401, 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." According to the latest report from Reporters Without Borders, Iran ranks 177th out of 180 countries in terms of media freedom. Accordingly, the media freedom situation is only worse in three countries: Vietnam, China, and North Korea. Journalist Day and the "performative tribute" to "loyal" journalists; independent journalists are detained or under pressure. The U.S. is monitoring the conditions of imprisoned Iranian journalists; the world is witnessing human rights violations in Iran. The conviction of two journalists 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. The Federation of Journalists has called for the freedom of imprisoned journalists; media repression is condemned.