Sister of Imprisoned Journalist Elahe Mohammadi: It Has Been Exactly One Year Since Our Hands Were Separated

The sister of Elahe Mohammadi, an imprisoned journalist, noted the passing of one year since the incarceration of this journalist, stating: "It has been exactly one year since our hands were separated." Elnaz Mohammadi, the twin sister of Elahe Mohammadi, published this statement on Thursday, October 6, on X (formerly Twitter). Elahe Mohammadi, a journalist for the Ham-Mihan newspaper, and Niloufar Hamedi, a journalist for the Shargh newspaper, were arrested last year after covering the news related to the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini while in the custody of the morality police, and they have been in prison ever since. The judiciary of the Islamic Republic has accused these two journalists of "collaboration with the hostile government of the United States." The accusations have been denied by the imprisoned journalists and their lawyers, and officials from the U.S. Department of State have explicitly rejected any connection between Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi with the U.S., calling such accusations baseless and demanding their release. The two journalists have defended their professional conduct in court sessions, emphasizing their innocence. The U.S. State Department has also deemed the trial of these two journalists as a blatant attempt to intimidate journalists in Iran and force them into silence. The continued imprisonment of these two journalists comes at a time when Elahe Mohammadi has been deprived of access to medical services in recent weeks. Recently, HRANA, the news agency of human rights activists in Iran, reported on the lack of medical attention for Elahe Mohammadi, an imprisoned journalist in Evin prison. According to this report, the prison authorities' obstruction has prevented Elahe Mohammadi from undergoing urgent tests prescribed by the prison doctor. In recent months, Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi have received several awards from international organizations, including the "Press Freedom Prize" from UNESCO and the "Freedom Prize" from the National Press Club of America named after "John Abourezk." The spokesperson for the judiciary denied the "acquittal" of Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi from the charge of collaborating with a hostile country. One year of the temporary detention of Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi; lawyers say the atmosphere is "conducive for acquittal." Anniversary of Mahsa; Reporters Without Borders: During the "widespread crackdown" on protests, 79 Iranian journalists were arrested. The International Federation of Journalists condemned the conviction of the two journalists in Iran.