Iranian Association Refutes Verdicts For Jailed Journalists

The Tehran Journalists Association has declared its refusal to accept the verdicts for two imprisoned journalists, Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi.

In a statement released on Monday, the association branded the sentences for the two journalists imprisoned for their groundbreaking story of the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody as "harsh" and reflective of the challenging environment for professional journalism in Iran, which is coming increasingly under fire.

Hundreds of journalists have been punished and imprisoned for daring to propagate anti-regime sentiment, worsening since the uprising which followed Amini's death, the biggest challenge to the regime since its founding in 1979.

The Iranian Judiciary, on Monday, announced that Elaheh Mohammadi, a journalist affiliated with Ham-Mihan who covered Amini's funeral, had been sentenced to six years in prison for "collaborating with the United States," in addition to a five-year term for "conspiring and colluding against national security." An extra year of imprisonment was added for "promoting activities against the state."

Niloufar Hamedi, known for her iconic photograph of the grieving parents of Mahsa that sparked protests, and a correspondent for the Iranian reformist newspaper, Shargh, received a seven-year prison sentence for "collaboration with the United States government" and an additional five-year term for "conspiring and colluding in acts against national security." She was also handed an extra one-year sentence for "engaging in propagandistic activities against the state."

If the verdicts are upheld by the appellate court, Mohammadi will serve a total of six years in prison, and Hamedi will serve a total of seven years.

Meanwhile, the Office of the US Special Envoy for Iran released a statement on the X platform, condemning the severe sentences imposed on the two women The message read, "Niloufar and Elaheh should never have been jailed, and we condemn their sentences. The Iranian regime jails journalists because it fears the truth."