Amnesty International calls for release of two Iranian journalists sentenced over coverage of Amini protests

TEHRAN — On Tuesday, Amnesty International condemned the harsh prison sentences issued for Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaha Mohammadi.

“Journalism is not a crime,” wrote the organization on X, formerly Twitter, calling on the Iranian regime to release them.

Amnesty stressed that the Iranian court’s decision in the case of Hamedi and Mohammadi for their news coverage of the state murder of Zhina “Mahsa” Amini was unjust.

The journalists were deprived of legal representation for eight months after they were arrested by the Iranian authorities and subjected to torture. Hamedi and Mohammadi were sentenced to 7 and 6 years in prison, respectively.

Amnesty stated that the Iranian authorities have harassed the family of Amini, sentenced its lawyer to prison, and today they are sentencing the two journalists who investigated her death.

The organization described the actions of the Iranian authorities as a shameful campaign to cover up the truth and silence voices seeking justice and accountability.

Amnesty noted that since the beginning of the “Women, Life, Freedom” uprising, the Iranian authorities have arrested at least 90 journalists and 60 lawyers.

Amnesty International called for the release of detainees who exercise their right to free speech.

#إيران: قضت محكمة إيرانية بسجن كل من الصحفيتين نيلوفر حامدي وإلهه محمدي لما يزيد عن عقد من الزمن بعد محاكمة بالغة الجور لتحقيقهما في وفاة مهسا (جينا) أميني في الحجز.
الصحافة ليست جريمة! يجب على السلطات الإيرانية الإفراج عنهما الآن!

— منظمة العفو الدولية (@AmnestyAR) October 24, 2023