UANI Stands With Iranian Journalists On International Day To End Impunity For Crimes Against Journalists

(New York, N.Y.) — As the world observes International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the Iranian regime has jailed at least 45 journalists for telling the world the truth about Iran’s human rights abuses. Most recently, the regime jailed Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, who were instrumental in breaking the story of Mahsa Amini’s death while in the custody of the so-called ‘morality police’. Both are currently being held in Evin Prison, which is notorious for subjecting inmates to torture—including beatings and mock executions—and other human-rights violations, including extended solitary confinement and denial of family visits and access to health care and legal counsel.

The United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) resource Iran’s War on Journalism and Journalists highlights the persecution of journalists and suppression of free speech in Iran. The regime has prohibited domestic and foreign journalists from covering anti-government protests; required that journalists only use official government data and sources about the spread of COVID-19 in Iran and refrain from investigative reporting or seeking information from other sources; and forced news outlets to parrot Tehran’s initial attempt to cover up its downing of a Ukrainian jetliner in January 2020 by claiming the plane crashed due to mechanical failure.  

At least 99 journalists remained imprisoned as of November 2021, according to the human rights website JournalismIsNotACrime.com. 

To read UANI’s resource Iran’s War on Journalism and Journalists, please click here. 

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