UN Special Rapporteur: The Islamic Republic Must Stop Widespread Harassment of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists

A UN special rapporteur expressed concern over prison sentences issued for two detained journalists in Iran and the lawyer of Mahsa Amini by the Islamic Republic's judiciary. Mary Lawlor, the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders, referred to the sentencing of Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi to '12 and 13 years' in prison by the judiciary as 'disturbing news.' According to the media center of the judiciary, based on the ruling of Branch 15 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran, Ms. Hamedi and Mohammadi were sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison, of which 13 years is 'enforceable.' According to this ruling, Elaheh Mohammadi was sentenced to 6 years in prison for 'collaboration with the hostile government of the United States,' 5 years for 'conspiracy to commit a crime against national security,' and 1 year for 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran.' Niloufar Hamedi was also sentenced to 7 years for 'collaboration with the hostile government of the United States,' 5 years for 'conspiracy to commit a crime against national security,' and 1 year for 'propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran.' If the ruling is confirmed by the appeals court, the harsher penalties (6 years for Elaheh Mohammadi and 7 years for Niloufar Hamedi) will be enforced. Mary Lawlor also expressed concern over the sentence issued against Saleh Nikbakht, the lawyer for Mahsa Amini's family, who was sentenced to 'one year' in prison for 'activities related to the Mahsa (Zhina) Amini case.' In the early days following Mahsa (Zhina) Amini's death in custody, Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi, journalists who reported on her condition in the hospital and then on the funeral (which was held under strict security measures), were arrested and have not been released despite more than a year passing. Saleh Nikbakht was also tried and sentenced to one year in prison after giving interviews to media regarding Mahsa Amini's murder case. The UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders stated that the Iranian government 'must stop the widespread harassment of human rights defenders and journalists.' The charges of 'connection between Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi with the US government' were made despite the US State Department previously denying this claim, stating that the trial of these two journalists was aimed at 'intimidating journalists in Iran.' The issuance of prison sentences for these two journalists has sparked a wave of protests and criticisms against the judiciary's actions. Tanaz Kolahchian: The sentences for Niloufar and Elaheh are a show trial and a warning to independent journalists in Iran. Reactions to prison sentences for 'truth-tellers': The Islamic Republic will not see 'six to seven years ahead.' Announcement of sentences in a case; Niloufar Hamedi: 13 years in prison, 7 years enforceable; Elaheh Mohammadi: 12 years in prison, 6 years enforceable. About 200 journalists have called for the release of Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi. The sister of Elaheh Mohammadi, the imprisoned journalist, stated: 'It has now been exactly one year since our hands have been separated.'