Iran: Nazila Maroofian Threatened and Harassed by Special Unit Officer Following Prison Release

Journalist hints at suicidal thoughts as the result of the abuse

Location: Iran, Tehran
Date: June 20, 2023

Special Unit officer repeatedly threatens and harasses Kurdish journalist Nazila Maroofian after her release from prison in January, 2023. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is utterly dismayed Maroofian, who was detained in October 2022, continuously faces abuse for doing her work. The Coalition for Women in Journalism urges Iranian authorities to investigate the threats and harassment.

"After prison, two things happened to me. Continuous threats by my interrogator and being expelled and not allowed to work in editorial offices," investigative reporter Maroofian wrote on Twitter June 15. 

Maroofian was arrested October last year for publishing an interview with the father of Mahsa Amini, whose death in police custody triggered nationwide protests. Maroofian was sentenced in January 2023 to two years in prison, a fine of 15 million Tomans, and a five-year ban on leaving Iran for producing “propaganda against the state” and “publishing lies with the intention of disrupting the public mind.” According to the verdict, Maroufian’s two-year prison sentence is suspended for five years.

Maroofian took to Twitter on June 15 to share the abuse she has faced since her release.

"What's with the hair and look? Of course, because you're a prostitute, you dress like this," Maroofian recounts an incident in which the officer made derogatory comments.

Maroofian hinted the relentless threats and limitations on her work could lead to drastic measures such as suicide. "As long as I'm alive, I will write and stay in my country," the reporter wrote.

Additionally, the newsroom Maroofian is working with, neglected to respond to the reporter’s messages, leading her to believe they terminated her employment for speaking out about the abuse. The chief editor clarified she had not been fired after Maroofian's tweet about her termination received international media attention and was condemned by several media organizations, including CFWIJ.

Despite these challenges, Maroofian remains determined to continue writing and plans to stay in Iran. 

Abuse In Prison

Maroofian faced severe mental pressure and torture during her detention and interrogation. She was held in solitary confinement or cells with only a few other prisoners. The day before her trial, she fainted and suffered a heart attack. Maroofian was then transferred to Muftah Hospital in Shahreri but was returned to Qarchak prison despite incomplete health tests. 

The conditions in Qarchak prison, including overcrowding, poor hygiene, and inadequate medical care, have been widely criticized by human rights organizations. Maroofian's case has drawn attention to the Iranian government's brutal treatment of journalists and activists.

Iran media freedom during protests 

As protests erupted and rapidly spread throughout Iran, the country's intelligence agencies prioritized suppressing free media. The failure of security institutions to quash dissenters led to the tactic of arresting and expelling reporters, journalists, and media activists from news agencies due to their coverage of domestic news, particularly the ongoing protests. This was done to censor the dissemination of information both within and beyond Iran's borders. 

Since the outbreak of nationwide protests, CFWIJ has recorded the arrests of 38 women journalists, including Maroofian, which is alarmingly high and expected to rise. The uprising shows no sign of ending and appears to only intensify with each passing day.

Award-winning artist Atena Farghadani was taken into custody on Wednesday, June 7th, at Evin Prison in Tehran for posting a satirical political cartoon on her Instagram account. The cartoonist had responded to a summons to appear at the prison's courthouse, where she was arrested. In her first post on the platform since February 2020, Farghadani depicted people with animal and satanic faces in a satirical political cartoon. She captioned the artwork by stating that it was created "in the privacy of my own home" and did not involve "the Islamic Republic and its agents."

The Coalition For Women In Journalism expresses solidarity with Nazila Maroofian and all Iranian women journalists who have spoken out against the authoritarian regime. The continuous abuse has a devastating effect on their ability to do their work and could even lead to severe mental health breakdowns, in the worst-case scenario, suicide. We demand Iranian authorities look into the repeated abuse Maroofian faces and hold the officer accountable for their illegal behavior. 

CFWIJ reiterates its calls on the international community to impose harsher sanctions on the Iranian government and demands the immediate release of all incarcerated journalists. Ultimately, promoting and protecting human rights, including freedom of expression and freedom of the press, are universal values that all governments and societies should uphold. The international community has a responsibility to monitor and address human rights abuses, including the situation of incarcerated journalists in Iran.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.