Users on the Eve of the Trial of Two Journalists: We Are the Resounding Voice of 'Elahe - Niloufar'

On the eve of the second trial session for Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, two journalists arrested for their coverage of the death of Mahsa Amini, social media users wrote about these two women journalists using the hashtag 'Elahe - Niloufar.' Elnaz Mohammadi, the twin sister of Elahe Mohammadi, who is also a journalist, expressed her heartfelt wishes for their freedom in a letter to her 'steadfast sisters' Elahe and Niloufar, hoping that 'this longing will one day come to an end' and that they will arrive 'with grace and joy' when the doors of Evin prison open. She emphasized: 'I cherish the word freedom when it sits next to your name.' Mohsen Ajarlou, Niloufar Hamedi's husband, and Saeed Parsaee, Elahe Mohammadi's husband, tweeted similarly, stating that the trial of these two imprisoned journalists is approaching, saying 'our voice has not reached anywhere in the past 10 months and the temporary detention continues.' The husbands of these two imprisoned journalists have called on the public to join a Twitter storm to 'demand freedom' for Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi. In response to this request, Taraneh Alidoosti, a well-known actress who was arrested for supporting public protests, published a photo of Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi and wrote: 'We write for the freedom of Elahe - Niloufar.' Mina Akbari, a documentary filmmaker and journalist, emphasized that 'we must leave the field of inaction,' stating that 'everyone has a tool for this work' and described Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi as 'honorable journalists' who have narrated 'a picture of what is happening to us.' She stated that 'we are on the side of truth and the truth is evident,' asserting that by imprisoning these two journalists, 'this narrative will not only not be erased but will be engraved on our souls and minds.' Mouloud Hajizadeh, a journalist, referred to the suffering endured by the families of these two imprisoned journalists, saying: '300 days of your resilience have passed. Not only you, but 300 days of your families' resilience against the suffering imposed on them have also passed.' He emphasized that he will not forget 'all the days' that 'the right to freedom' was denied to these two journalists. Roushi Roozbehani, an illustrator, published a portrait of these two journalists, calling Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi 'the manifestations of woman, life, freedom.' Sima Baghi, a journalist in Iran, stressed that Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi 'spoke the truth so that the blood of a human would not be trampled.' Maryam Lotfi, a journalist at Shargh newspaper, also described the arrest of these two journalists as 'clear oppression,' stating that until the end, 'we are the resounding voice of Elahe - Niloufar.' Hasti Amiri, who identifies herself as an economic law student on Twitter, referred to these two journalists as reporters who have written 'for years from the women of Qarchak prison to the burial of Zhina' and 'from women's sports to the night of execution,' narrating 'the murder of Romina to pregnancy checks in hospitals.' Previously, a video of a group singing the song 'Blue Girl of Iran,' which included these two journalists, had gone viral on social media. The International Federation of Journalists, on July 29, called for the immediate release of 'Niloufar Hamedi, Elahe Mohammadi, Farakhandeh Ashouri, Nazila Maroufian, Maral Darafarin, Ribar Seyed Mohammadi, and Kamyar Fakour,' reiterating that journalism is not a crime and that the Islamic Republic must release all imprisoned journalists and media activists. Additionally, the U.S. ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council called for the release of Niloufar Hamedi, a journalist at Shargh newspaper, Elahe Mohammadi, a journalist at Ham-Mihan newspaper, and all journalists who have been imprisoned for covering the death of Mahsa Amini, coinciding with the 300th day of Niloufar Hamedi's detention.