Reporters Without Borders: Iran is the Largest Prison for Female Media Activists

Reporters Without Borders has once again expressed its concern about the situation of imprisoned journalists and citizen journalists in Iran, referring to Iran as the "largest prison in the world for female media activists." In a statement published on Wednesday, March 16, on the organization's website, it emphasized that Iran, with 36 imprisoned journalists and citizen journalists, is one of the five largest prisons in the world for media activists. Reporters Without Borders also ranked Iran 173rd out of 180 countries in its 2015 World Press Freedom Index. The latest statement from Reporters Without Borders particularly mentions Afrin Chit-saz, a colleague of the Iran newspaper who was arrested on November 2. The statement notes that nearly four months later, "no official news" has been released regarding Ms. Chit-saz's status, but according to "information gathered by Reporters Without Borders," she, along with three other journalists, was transferred to Ward 2-A of Evin Prison and has only had a short phone call with her family since her arrest. Reporters Without Borders states that in Ward 2-A of Evin Prison, which is under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, "long-term solitary confinement and pressure to obtain confessions are common practices." The statement emphasizes that besides Afrin Chit-saz, Atena Farghadani, Reyhaneh Tabatabai, Roya Saberi-Nejad Nobakht, and Narges Mohammadi, who have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from one to 12 years, are also imprisoned in Iran, making the Islamic Republic the largest prison for female media activists in the world. Reporters Without Borders also expressed concern for the health of imprisoned journalist Eisa Saharkhiz, mentioning his two cellmates, Ehsan Mazandarani and Saman Safarzadeh, who were tried on March 13 in Branch 28 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges such as "propaganda against the regime, actions against national security through gathering and collusion, and insulting officials." Reza Moini, head of the Iran and Afghanistan office at Reporters Without Borders, stated: "As the New Year approaches, many imprisoned journalists and citizen journalists are deprived of being with their families. Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani, whose silence has facilitated the suppression of arrests, could use clemency to free these prisoners." Mr. Moini emphasized that "these prisoners have been arbitrarily detained and unjustly sentenced." Reporters Without Borders is a non-governmental organization advocating for freedom of expression, media freedom, and journalists, headquartered in Paris, France.