TIMELINE: Nazila Maroofian -Kurdish Journalist Incessantly Harassed for Defying Iran's Censorship Attempts

23-year-old Kurdish journalist Nazila Maroofian has endured incessant harassment since her coverage of the death of Mahsa Amini and her subsequent interview with Amini's father. Authorities have arrested and detained the journalist for months on end four times in under ten months.

The journalist was initially arrested in October 2022 and has since experienced a barrage of legal harassment and mental and physical assault at the hands of the authorities.

From solitary confinement to suffering a heart attack on the eve of her trial and being stalked by a security officer after her release from prison.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism has worryingly been documenting the harassment Maroofian is facing. Below is a thorough timeline laying out all major developments.

2023

October 10

Maroofian flees to France. She takes to social media to share images of her bruised face, alleging that she endured 15 days of torture while being held in Sulaymaniyah prison.

September 10

Authorities release Maroofian on bail following her fourth arrest within ten months.

September 4

Presiding over the court, Judge Iman Afashari finds Maroofian guilty of "spreading propaganda against the regime." Maroofian receives a one-year sentence and a fine of 15 million tomans.

Maroofian goes on a dry hunger strike to protest against the physical and sexual violence she has endured during her time in prison. "This strike represents not just my own struggle but also serves as a protest for all women enduring challenging circumstances in Iran."

September 1

Maroofian is unjustly rearrested for the fourth time, facing charges of "propaganda against the system" and "spreading false news."

August 16

Authorities release Maroofian on bail after keeping her detained for 24 hours behind bars.

August 15

Maroofian's freedom is short-lived as she is apprehended two days after her release from prison, marking her third arrest.

August 13

Maroofian experiences a brief respite from confinement when she is released from prison after enduring five weeks behind bars.

July 8

Following a summons to the Evin Prosecutor's Office in Tehran, authorities arrest Maroofian for the second time.

July 4

Security forces raid Maroofian's residence in Tehran, where they seize several personal items, including her mobile phone and laptop.

June 15

Maroofian takes to Twitter to share the abuse she faces from a Special Unit officer since her release. Maroofian hints that the relentless threats and limitations on her work could lead to drastic measures such as suicide. She writes, "As long as I'm alive, I will write and stay in my country."

January 28

The Kurdish journalist receives a two-year prison sentence, is fined 15 million Tomans, and faces a five-year ban on leaving Iran.

January 9

After spending 72 days in detention, Maroofian is granted temporary release from Qarchak prison upon payment of a bail amounting to 600 million tomans ($12,000).

January 4

Maroofian is scheduled to appear in court, but due to her poor physical condition, she cannot attend. Prison officials refuse to transport her to court. Despite her deteriorating physical health and the conclusion of initial interrogations and investigations, judicial authorities refuse to convert her temporary detention into bail, going against the customary practice of Iranian courts. The Kurdish journalist remains in harsh prison conditions without adequate medical care.

January 3

Maroofian suffers from a heart attack a day before her trial. She is transferred to the Muftah Hospital in Shahreri for medical treatment. Despite the tests on her health not being completed, she is sent back to Qarchak prison.

2022

October 30

Police arrest Maroofian, a reporter of Rouydad 24 and former reporter of Didban Iran, and detain the journalist at the infamous Evin Prison. Authorities refuse to provide justifications for the arrest. Maroofian is held in solitary confinement or cells with few prisoners. Security interrogators in Evin Prison pressure and threaten her to obtain forced confessions.