The Islamic Republic unjustly calls for baseless legal action against the journalist.

Location: Iran, Tehran
Date: February 4, 2024

Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the legal harassment faced by Shahrzad Hemmati due to a social media post she made on Instagram. The accusation against the journalist of "supporting terrorists" for expressing her opposition to the use of the death penalty in Iran is deeply concerning. It is a clear example of how the Iranian regime uses vague and broad charges to silence dissent and restrict freedom of expression. Expressing one's opinion on a matter of public interest, such as the death penalty, should not be considered a criminal act. We call for an immediate end to the harassment faced by Shahrzad Hemmati and for the charges against her to be dropped. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, and journalists must be able to carry out their work without fear of arbitrary accusations and threats. We are deeply troubled by the deliberate targeting of journalists by the Iranian regime. We stand in solidarity with Hemmati and all journalists facing similar unjust persecution.

In a recent wave of restrictions on journalists in Iran, the country's judicial and security institutions have faced criticism for justifying these measures by accusing journalists of "supporting terrorists." This justification came to the forefront when the Islamic Republic called for legal action against Shahrzad Hemmati, a journalist and the social desk editor of Shargh newspaper, over a post she made on Instagram.

Hemmati's post, in which she expressed her opposition to the use of the death penalty, drew attention and sparked a debate on the limits of freedom of speech. Legal professionals and social media users have voiced their concerns, arguing that expressing an opinion or showing sympathy towards individuals should not be deemed criminal.

Ghasem Boedi, a lawyer and jurist, emphasized that holding an opinion is not a criminal act and that sympathy towards any person cannot be considered a crime. He pointed out that Article 23 of the Islamic Republic's constitution explicitly states that no one should be attacked for having an opinion. Boedi further clarified that the term "supporting terrorists" is not legally defined and that the criminalization of terrorism financing is a separate matter.

Echoing Boedi's viewpoint, Moussa Barzin Khalifehlou, a lawyer and human rights activist, highlighted that Hemmati had simply expressed an opinion and exercised her freedom of speech. He emphasized that the law only criminalizes financial and logistical support for terrorism, and the term "terrorist supporter" is not present in legal statutes.

Barzin asserted that every citizen, including journalists, has the right to voice their opinions about judicial decisions as long as it pertains to unjust proceedings against people. He clarified that such comments are neither criminal nor prohibited unless they involve false assumptions that can be proven to be untrue.

Notably, the recent case did not involve false assumptions or claims that the judge was influenced. Kambiz Norouzi, a lawyer and advocate for press and media rights, stated on his Telegram channel that Hemmati's statement was solely a reaction to the execution itself and did not involve those who were executed.

Ali Mojtahedzadeh, another lawyer, weighed in on the controversy, highlighting the inviolable principle of the narrow interpretation of criminal laws. According to Mojtahedzadeh, even if the people executed were members of a separatist party accused of being terrorists, Hemmati cannot be charged for simply writing about them. He dismissed the accusations against her as unfounded and bizarre.

The debate surrounding the accusations of "supporting terrorists" has shed light on the importance of protecting freedom of speech and ensuring that journalists can express their opinions without fear of criminalization. Critics argue that the term lacks legal basis and should not be used as a means to suppress dissenting voices in Iran.

Women Press Freedom has been diligently observing the environment of dissent in Iran. Our documentation reveals deeply concerning levels of press freedom violations, particularly heightened since the outbreak of nationwide protests. People who courageously speak truth to power are targeted with fines, arrests, or even imprisonment. Disturbingly, there are presently 42 women journalists behind bars in Iran.

Women Press Freedom stands in solidarity with Shahrzad Hemmati, vehemently condemning the Iranian regime's efforts to intimidate and silence her through unwarranted legal actions. We strongly denounce the baseless charges brought against her, which infringe upon her fundamental right to freedom of speech. We reiterate our calls on the international community to pressure Iran into releasing all journalists and ceasing its persecution of the press, including demanding that the charges against Hemmati be dropped immediately and unconditionally. Journalists must be able to express their opinions without fear of reprisal, and we will continue to advocate for the protection of their rights and the promotion of press freedom.

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

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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