Summoning of the Editors-in-Chief of the Newspapers 'Etemad' and 'Jahan San'at' to the Prosecutor's Office

The editors-in-chief of the newspapers 'Etemad' and 'Jahan San'at' have been summoned to the prosecutor's office due to the publication of what has been referred to as 'unsubstantiated content.' According to the media center of the judiciary, the editors must present 'necessary documentation and explanations regarding the alleged published content' on Saturday, May 6. No further details about the nature of the criticized content have been released. These two newspapers have a history of suspension and closure due to the publication of critical reports and articles. The 'Jahan San'at' newspaper was suspended last December for publishing a commentary on November 20, which the Press Supervisory Board deemed to contain 'accusations against the police and the guardians of national security.' The author of the commentary was also summoned to the prosecutor's office. Recently, the publication of a caricature of Ahmad Reza Radan, the commander of the Iranian police, in the 'Hamshahri' newspaper led to the issuance of a summons and indictment against the editor-in-chief of that newspaper. A journalist inside Iran previously sent a message to the Persian section of Voice of America, reporting an increase in pressure on Iranian media and describing the government's expectation from media as 'producing propaganda bulletins.' According to this journalist, media outlets are pressured for publishing 'critical analyses' under vague titles such as 'blackening' and the IRGC has become one of the main complainants against the press. Local media and journalists are also not safe from these pressures. The editor-in-chief of the news site 'Bamdad Khuzian,' which covers news from Shushtar, has been summoned to the prosecutor's office following a complaint from one of the judges in Shushtar. The news agency HRANA, which covers human rights news in Iran, has recently reported the arrest of Hassan Abbasi, a local journalist in Bandar Abbas. Following his summons, Hassan Abbasi stated in a message that if being a journalist is a crime, they should close the media. According to the latest report by Reporters Without Borders, Iran ranks 177th in media freedom among 180 countries worldwide. Accordingly, media freedom is only worse in three countries: Vietnam, China, and North Korea. Reporters Without Borders has described the state of media freedom in Iran as 'concerning' and labeled the Islamic Republic as 'one of the most repressive governments in the world' in this regard. A journalist in Iran told Voice of America: threats of 'murder and rape' against journalists who have recently been released. Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi have been accused of 'collaboration with the United States.' The Iranian Writers Association has called for the unconditional release of all imprisoned journalists in Iran. The latest ranking by Reporters Without Borders regarding media freedom has placed Iran at the bottom of the table.