For several years, press freedom in Iran has been under attack, with numerous arrests and convictions of journalists. Recently, two female journalists were sentenced to three years in prison, part of which was suspended, for “conspiracy” and “collusion”. This new conviction raises serious concerns about the situation of freedom of expression in the country.
Elnaz Mohammadi, of the daily Ham Mihan, and Negin Bagheri, of the newspaper Haft-e Sobh, were found guilty of these charges and were sentenced to serve part of their sentences in detention. The remaining sentence is suspended for five years, but they will have to take “professional ethics” courses and will not be able to leave Iran.
These convictions come in a context where the Iranian authorities are carrying out severe repression against journalists and independent media. Since protests erupted across the country in September 2022, more than 90 journalists have been arrested or questioned. This repression aims to stifle any critical voice and tightly control the information circulating in the country.
The situation is all the more worrying as these convictions join a long list of journalists imprisoned in Iran. Several of them were arrested for covering sensitive events or for expressing divergent opinions. This repression particularly targets women journalists, who are often accused of “collusion” or “conspiracy” for having dared to question the policies of the regime in place.
This situation is unacceptable and constitutes a serious attack on freedom of expression and freedom of the press. It is essential that the international community mobilizes to put pressure on the Iranian authorities and demand the release of these unjustly imprisoned journalists. The fight for press freedom in Iran must remain a top priority and we must not remain silent in the face of these violations of fundamental rights.
In conclusion, the conviction of these two female journalists in Iran is a tragic reminder of the ongoing crackdown on freedom of expression and press in the country. It is crucial to support these journalists and continue to denounce these human rights abuses. Press freedom is a fundamental pillar of any democratic society and it is essential to fight for its preservation everywhere in the world.