Iran: Two Women Journalists Sentenced to Over Four Years In Prison For Reporting

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the severe sentencing and demands the journalists be immediately released.

Location: Iran, Tehran
Date: July 31, 2023

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is heartbroken that an Iranian court has sentenced journalists Saeedeh Shafiei and Nasim Sultan Beygi to four years and three months for their reporting. A third journalist on trial, Mehrnoosh Zarei Henzaki, was acquitted of all charges. The verdicts come at a time when protests advocating for women's rights continue to unfold, ignited by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody in September 2022. The Coalition For Women In Journalism vehemently denounces the unfair trials targeting journalists and calls for their prompt and rightful exoneration.

Saeedeh Shafiei and Nasim Sultan Beygi are now among the 31 women journalists and media workers incarcerated in Iran. On July 31, Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court convicted the journalists for  "assembly and collusion" and "propaganda activity against the regime," sentencing them to four years and three months in prison. The court also imposed a two-year travel ban on the two journalists and prohibited their membership in any groups. All charges against their co-defendant, fellow journalist Mehrnoosh Zarei Henzaki, were dropped.   

The vaguely defined national security charges Shafiei and Sultan Beygi were convicted of have frequently been used by Iran to prosecute protesters, dissidents, and journalists in trials that do not meet international standards.

Shafiei, an economic journalist, was persecuted due to multiple articles she authored, addressing issues such as growing poverty and the government's handling of energy subsidies and public resources. Sultan Beygi, who worked for several Iranian publications, was targeted for collaborating with both domestic and foreign media outlets.

The three journalists were first arrested by Revolutionary Guard agents and detained in January 2023. 

Sultan Beygi was apprehended at Tehran's international airport on January 10, while attempting to flee the country. Shafiei and Henzaki were arrested at their homes in Tehran on January 22. 

After their arrests, Shafiei and Sultan Beygi were taken to undisclosed locations — Henzaki was taken to Evin prison. 

Charges against the three journalists were not made public and the identity of the arresting body was unknown. The lack of information about the journalists left their supporters and press freedom advocates deeply concerned. After almost a month in detention, the three journalists were eventually released on bail before being summoned for trial in July.

Iran, once again, has proven to be a grave threat to press freedom, especially for women journalists. The death of Mahsa Amini not only sparked unrest but also shed light on the dire situation faced by women journalists in the country. CFWIJ’s data reveals that there are currently 31 women journalists and media workers incarcerated in Iran, making it the worst jailer of women journalists in the world.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the severe sentencing of Saeedeh Shafiei and Nasim Sultan Beygi. The journalists are serving absurd prison time for reporting and have been charged under vague laws. We demand their immediate acquittal and release.

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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