October 13, 2024 - Iran, Tehran

Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the recent court decision to impose five-year prison sentences on journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi. This ruling is a blatant violation of press freedom and an affront to the principles of justice and human rights.

Hamedi and Mohammadi were unjustly targeted for their courageous reporting on Mahsa Amini's death, a pivotal moment that ignited the Women, Life, Freedom protests in Iran. Their commitment to uncovering the truth should be celebrated, not punished. The charges against them, including collusion and propaganda, are baseless and reflect a broader pattern of repression aimed at silencing dissent and stifling independent journalism in Iran.

The court's decision to uphold their sentences, despite clearing them of collaborating with the United States government, underscores the regime's ongoing efforts to intimidate and silence journalists. We stand in solidarity with Hamedi and Mohammadi and call for their immediate and unconditional release.

We urge the Iranian authorities to respect international human rights standards and to uphold the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and press freedom. 

Women Press Freedom demands justice for Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi and calls on the international community to hold the Iranian government accountable for its actions against press freedom and human rights. No journalist should face imprisonment for simply doing their job, and we will continue to advocate for the rights of all journalists facing persecution around the world.