Iranian Journalists Detained During 2022 Protests Furloughed On Bail

Two female Iranian journalists Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi have been temporarily released after posting hefty bails of approximately $200,000.

Mohammadi faces a 12-year sentence, 6 years executable, and Hamedi, 13 years with 7 years executable.

Hamedi's arrest on September 22, 2022, followed her reporting on Mahsa Amini's critical situation in the hospital, after she received serious head injuries in hijab police custody. Amini's eventual death sparked nationwide protests. A week later, Mohammadi, a Ham-Mihan newspaper reporter, was arrested covering Amini's funeral in Saqqez. Accused of informing about Amini's death, both faced pressure from security entities.

Amini was detained on charges of violating rules mandating women to wear a hijab. While Iran's state coroner claimed her death was due to pre-existing medical conditions, a UN human rights expert argued that evidence pointed to her dying "as a result of beatings" by morality police.

Hamedi, a Shargh newspaper journalist, was convicted of collaborating with the US government (7 years), conspiracy against national security (5 years), and anti-regime propaganda (1 year).

Mohammadi, received a 6-year sentence for collaborating with the US, 5 years for conspiracy against national security, and 1 year for anti-system propaganda, with 6 years to be executed.

Both also face a two-year prohibition of membership in parties and political groups, online activities, and media engagement.

The verdict, released over a year after detention, stirred widespread domestic and international reactions. Advocacy for press freedom and human rights intensified in response to the two journalists' challenging circumstances.