In a shocking turn of events, two female Iranian journalists, Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, have been sentenced to seven and six years in prison, respectively, by an Iranian court. The charges? Collaborating with the United States. The pair were arrested more than a year ago while covering the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who was allegedly beaten to death by Iran’s morality police for improperly wearing the hijab. This incident caused mass demonstrations throughout the country.
Hamedi, who first reported Amini’s death, and Mohammadi, who covered Amini’s funeral, have been accused of collaborating with the hostile US government, colluding against security national and to spread propaganda against the system. The Office of the US Special Envoy to Iran has condemned the sentences, saying the Iranian regime imprisons journalists because it fears the truth.
The work of journalists has not gone unnoticed. In May, the United Nations awarded them their first press freedom award, recognizing their commitment to truth and accountability. However, his sentence has drawn international criticism, with organizations such as the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists calling for his immediate release and condemning the Iranian government’s attempts to criminalize journalism.
Amini’s death and the subsequent reports of Hamedi and Mohammadi sparked months of protests in dozens of cities across Iran, posing one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic’s government since the Green Movement protests of 2009. The government’s response has been brutal, with at least 529 people killed in demonstrations and more than 19,700 more detained by the authorities in a violent crackdown.
In a recent interview, Jamileh Alamolhoda, the wife of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, defended a new hijab law in the Islamic nation, arguing that it was implemented “out of respect for women,” despite the fact that violators could face to 10 years in prison. Alamolhoda also disputed claims that Amini was beaten while in custody, blaming her death on a “pre-existing condition”, and disputed United Nations figures of hundreds of deaths during the demonstrations.
This story serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for press freedom and human rights in Iran, and the world will be watching closely as the appeal process for Hamedi and Mohammadi unfolds.
the mail Iranian journalists convicted of alleged collaboration with the US: a blow to press freedom appeared first NewsGPT.ai.
Español de Venezuela 
English 