Iran: Photojournalist Yalda Moaiery Arrested Covering Anti-State Protest
Location: Iran, Tehran
Date: September 21, 2022
Police detained photojournalist Yalda Moaiery covering anti-state protests in Tehran, sparked by a young woman’s death and allegations of police torture for breaking Iran’s mandatory hijab law, an enforced Islamic dress code that requires women to cover their hair with a headscarf and loose-fitting robes. The Coalition for Women in Journalism is concerned about the escalated situation in the country. We urge authorities to let journalists do their job. Iranian authorities should immediately release Yalda and stop harassing journalists and detaining women over moral laws.
Yalda is a renowned photojournalist with over 20 years of experience in several international media outlets. On Monday, September 19, 2022, she was arrested following large anti-government protests, on Hijab street in central Tehran, while photographing women protesting against the hijab law. The death of young women caused a huge revolt in the country, erupting in large protests, as women in several cities removed, waved, and burned their hijabs demanding basic rights. Security forces fired gunshots and water cannons as they chased protesters and beat them with batons, according to videos shared on social media by Iranian journalists.
According to journalist Yaela’s Instagram stories, police beat and ill-treated her as she was arrested along with other women protesters, while she continued to report from inside the police van. She is in a jail in Tehran, while family members have not been allowed to see her, adding that police officers said “she may be released in two weeks”, according to her brother.
Protests started on Friday, September 16, 2022, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained by “morality police '' on September 13, for violating the country's hijab law, the authorities’ interpretation of “proper” clothing. She fell into a coma due to alleged violence in police custody. There are several reports that Amini was beaten with a baton and slammed her head against one of the police vehicles, as acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada al-Nashif said. The police have denied that she was mistreated and said she suffered a heart attack, but her family said she was fit and healthy, with no pre-existing heart conditions.
At least seven people are now reported to have been killed since protests against the hijab law and morality police erupted after Amini’s death. The new enforcement of the hijab law has exposed divisions among people and religious clergy in the country. In recent months it has been reported numerous videos of violent treatment of women, including slapping women across the face, beating them with batons, and throwing them into police vans.
According to Reporters Without Borders, Iran is one of the world's ten worst countries for press freedom and remains one of the most repressive ones for journalists. Iran’s legal framework states very general rules concerning freedom of expression. Article 24 of the constitution allows the authorities to ensure that journalists do not “endanger the Islamic Republic”, “do not insult the clergy and the Supreme Leader” and do not “spread false information”.
Coalition For Women In Journalism research shows Iran is already the world's leading jailer of women journalists. The media is largely controlled by the Islamic regime. Journalists and independent media in Iran are constantly persecuted by arbitrary arrests and heavy sentences. The state of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran has been criticized by Iranians and International human rights activists. According to Human Rights Act, Article 14 requires that all rights and freedoms must be protected and applied without discrimination. Article 9 protects your right to freedom of thought, belief, and religion. Most Muslim countries including Iran signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but later argued that violated Islamic law, and failed to take into consideration their culture. CFWIJ condemns the blatant press repression in Iran and urges international attention. Attacks on press freedom in Iran must be lifted and the authorities must allow all of its citizens to practice their rights without the fear of being prosecuted for it.
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.
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