The Guardian's Report on the Brutal Suppression of Female Journalists in Iran: 40% Were Women

The British newspaper The Guardian, coinciding with the trial of Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, two imprisoned journalists in Iran, wrote about the 'brutal suppression' of female journalists in Iran. A young female journalist residing in Tehran told the newspaper that security agents warned her in a call that they went to her sister's house to assault her, a bitter warning from the agents. This journalist added that these agents were from the Revolutionary Guards, who had interrogated her after she participated in one of the recent nationwide protests. These protests began following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police and spread to various parts of Iran. The trial of Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, two journalists who were among the first to report on Mahsa Amini's death, is taking place under conditions where journalists in Iran report violent beatings, threats, and imprisonment due to their reports on protests in Iran. A female journalist who wished to remain anonymous told The Guardian that despite being released without any charges after three days of detention by the Guards, she was worried for her life. She had been arrested while covering the protests following Mahsa Amini's death. This female journalist added, 'The Guards have messaged me several times that they will kill me like the protesters who were killed during the protests.' According to another female journalist, she was told that she does not have the 'right to cover the protests' and cannot interview the families of the deceased. According to a report by Reporters Without Borders, about 40% of journalists detained in the past seven months have been women. Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi are accused of collaborating with hostile foreign powers. They were arrested shortly after their reports were published in September 2022 and remain in solitary confinement. Ms. Hamedi, a journalist for the reformist newspaper Shargh, and Ms. Mohammadi, a journalist covering gender equality and social issues for the Ham-Mihan newspaper, are accused of 'organizing nationwide protests' through their reports and collaborating with Western intelligence agencies, especially the CIA. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department has denied these accusations. Matthew Miller, in response to a question from a VOA reporter about the case of these two imprisoned journalists, said, 'We reject these accusations. They are clearly not true.' Journalists in Iran say that most of the violence is focused on citizen journalists, both women and men, whose reports and photos have been seen throughout Iran and abroad. A female journalist stated that citizen journalists, who are often less known, 'filled the gap left by official journalists who are trapped in censorship.' She added, 'The Iranian government, fearing international reactions, harasses well-known journalists less, but punishes anonymous citizen journalists. The reduction in independent journalism jobs and the threats to their lives and freedom in Iran have forced some of those who spoke with The Guardian to join state media to make a living. They still hope for an opportunity to report freely again. Reporters Without Borders condemned the 'sham trial' of imprisoned journalists; Niloufar Hamedi rejected all charges against her. The trial of the two journalists and two political activists is being held in a non-public manner. Continued detention of Sajjad Shahabi, the detained anchor, and concerns about his condition. The journalists' guild has requested a 'fair and public trial' for Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi. Vida Rabani, a imprisoned journalist, stated that psychiatric drugs are distributed among prisoners like 'candy.' The poor physical condition of 'Vida Rabani' in Evin; officials refuse to send her to the hospital. The managing editor of the Etemad newspaper was sentenced to pay a fine. 'Public trial' of Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi; a public demand, anger from Kayhan. In response to VOA, the United States rejected the Islamic Republic's claims about Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi. After months of waiting for a court date, the case of Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi has been initiated.