Iran: Women Press Freedom Demands Immediate Release of Nasrin Hassani
Continued legal harassment of Hassani since protests against the death of Mahsa Amini must stop
Location: Iran, Tehran
Date: February 4, 2024
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom firmly stands against the unjust imprisonment of journalist Nasrin Hassani by Iranian authorities. The charges against Hassani, including "false news" and "spreading propaganda against the system," are unfounded and serve only to suppress freedom of expression and silence the press. The imprisonment of Hassani and other journalists for their work is an egregious assault on press freedom and a clear message to silence dissenting voices. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Nasrin Hassani and all other journalists detained for simply fulfilling their professional duties. We also call for the dropping of all charges against them, as these charges are baseless and represent a direct attack on the principles of journalism and the right to information. We continue our call for the international community to increase pressure on the Iranian authorities to respect press freedom, release detained journalists, and ensure a safe environment for the press to operate without fear of retaliation or imprisonment.
"My seven-month prison sentence is nothing compared to the costs people paid during the 2022 protests to achieve freedom and democracy," Nasrin Hassani, a journalist residing in Bojnurd, said before she was imprisoned on February 4, 2024, to serve a seven-month sentence.
Hassani was arrested in September 2022 for performing her duty as a journalist, reporting on events of significant public interest, including the protests ignited by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini. She was charged in September 2022 but released on bail.
Hassani is imprisoned while her thirteen-year-old son, Amirhossein Hosseini Masoum, has no other guardian but his mother.
“My seven-month prison sentence is nothing compared to the costs people paid during the 2022 protests to achieve freedom and democracy”
The journalist was initially convicted of spreading lies and for not observing the hijab in public places in November 2023. One month later, she was sentenced to one year in prison. This week, authorities summoned the journalist to commence her imprisonment.
Hassani expressed hope that the people of Iran will one day see the fruits of all the "blood, arrests, summons, and imprisonments."
CFWIJ has been closely monitoring the climate of dissent in Iran. We have documented alarming levels of press freedom violations, which have seen a significant increase following the eruption of nationwide protests. Those who dare speak truth to power can face fines, arrests, or imprisonment. Currently, there are 42 women journalists behind bars in Iran.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom vehemently denounces the unjust imprisonment of journalist Nasrin Hassani by Iranian authorities. The charges levied against Hassani, including accusations of spreading false news and propaganda, are baseless and represent a blatant attempt to stifle freedom of expression and muzzle the press. The ongoing legal harassment faced by Hassani since her coverage of the protests following the tragic death of Mahsa Amini is deeply concerning and must cease immediately. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Hassani and all other journalists who have been detained solely for carrying out their professional duties. We urge the international community to ramp up pressure on the Iranian government to respect press freedom, release detained journalists, and create an environment where the press can operate without fear of reprisal or incarceration. The continued imprisonment of journalists like Nasrin Hassani is a violation of their individual rights and an assault on the cornerstone of democracy — the freedom of the press.
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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