Iran: Surge in Arbitrary Arrests of Women Journalists Ahead of 1st Anniversary Anti-Government Protests

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with the arrested journalists and activists; calls for immediate global response 

Location: Iran, Tehran
Date: August 17, 2023

Authorities arrest and re-arrest over a dozen journalists and activists, intensifying their efforts to suppress dissenting voices in anticipation of the upcoming first anniversary of the nationwide protests that erupted in 2022. The Coalition For Women In Journalism has recorded a 250% increase in press freedom violations in Iran since 2022. We express our unwavering support for the arrested journalists and activists, urging the United Nations to address this concerning situation urgently.

Multiple journalists and activists have been arrested across Iran during the past week. According to Human Rights Watch, Iranian authorities detained at least twelve journalists and activists.

"The street protests may have slowed down, but the authorities are continuing their crackdown,” says Sepehri Far, senior Iran researcher at Human Rights Watch. Far explains how Iranian authorities are employing their usual tactics of exerting maximum pressure on peaceful dissidents in anticipation of Mahsa Amini's death anniversary. 

On August 17, the General Intelligence Office of Gilan Province, affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Corps intelligence organization, released a statement announcing the arrest of 12 people. The report claims the arrested allegedly planned to disrupt security. The authorities accused the leaders of this network, without presenting any evidence, of participating in training sessions to orchestrate a "soft overthrow" of the system. 

A day earlier, on August 16, 2023, independent women's rights group Bidarzani shared how security forces had carried out several home raids, arresting 12 women’s rights defenders and activists. The Prosecutor's Office has denied families access to information on the charges against the detainees, according to Bidarzani.

Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported the same day that travel blogger Elaheh Asgari was arrested by intelligence authorities after she went to the passport office to retrieve her seized passport. Asgari was subsequently transferred to Evin prison. The next da HRANA shared how Mahsa Basir Tavana — sister of Mehran Basir Tavana, killed during the 2022 anti-government protests — was arrested by authorities in Gilan province. 

In recent weeks, there has also been an escalation in the authorities' crackdown on the Baha'i religious minority community. The Baha'i International Community (BIC) reported that on August 13, eleven Baha'i citizens, including Jamaluddin Khanjani, a 90-year-old former Baha'i community leader who had previously served ten years in prison, were rearrested. 

List of arrested women journalists and activists:

- Yasamin Hashdari 

- Negin Rezaei 

- Shiva Shah Siah 

- Vahedeh Khoshsirat 

- Jelveh Javaheri (journalist)

- Zahra Dadras

- Zohreh Dadras

- Matin Yazdani (photojournalist)

- Forough Samei Nia

- Azadeh Chavoshian

- Sara Jahani

- Hooman Taheri

- Mahsa Basir Tavana

- Elaheh Asgari (journalist)

- Maria Khanjani

Iran's press freedom repression has intensified since a surge of protests erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini, a student arrested for her attire. The country has now become one of the largest jailers of journalists worldwide, as CFWIJ has documented. 

The Coalition for Women in Journalism expresses solidarity with the journalists and activists arrested in Iran. Intelligence and judicial authorities in Iran routinely level vague charges related to national security against journalists and activists, and their trial processes often fail to meet international standards. We strongly condemn Iran's blatant disregard for press freedom and human rights. We view the mass arbitrary arrests as an attempt to stifle public discontent regarding ongoing impunity and human rights abuses. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all imprisoned journalists and activists and urge the United Nations to promptly address this alarming situation 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.

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