Presidential election in Iran: the ongoing repression of journalists must end now

Independent investigative journalists Saba Azarpeikand Yashar Soltaniare the latest reporters to be imprisoned in Iran due to their work. Sentenced on 11 June 2024 to 2 years and 13 months in prison respectively, for spreading "false information" and "propaganda against the state," they are among almost thirty journalists stuck behind bars in the country.

Arbitrary detentions, surveillance, censorship, and oppressive laws constitute Iran's growing arsenal of repression against journalists. RSF calls on the future Iranian president, who will be chosen in today's election, to stop this crackdown.

Legislative repression

The crackdown on journalists is carried out through many different legislative measures. Since 2022, at least 14 journalists have faced charges such as"propaganda against the state," "conspiring against national security," or "publishing lies, defamation, slander, threats." All three of these charges were brought against journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi. While Article 24 of the Iranian Constitution guarantees press freedom, it specifies that it must not violate "Islamic principles" or "public interest,"vague terms that are frequently interpreted in a way that suppresses dissent.

Arbitrary detentions

Often arrested without charge and detained in hidden locations, many journalists disappear. Hadi Kasaie Zadeh, journalist and editor-in-chief of the newspaper Meydan-e Azad, was arrested and transferred to an unknown location on 21 June before being released later that day. He had just published an article on the death of Nika Shakarami, a teenager who went missing during the "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests in 2022. Of the 83 journalists imprisoned during the movement, 29 were women, making up a third of the imprisoned journalists. Victims of legal ploys, lengthy detentions, and enforced disappearances.

Media censorship

Tactics to intimidate journalists extend to police raidsof news headquarters, such as the attack on Farda-e-Eghtesad, an economic newspaper. The day after the raid, government-backed news agency Mizan stated that "the inspection of media premises by judicial officers and the arrests were not related to their journalistic and media activities," yet did not provide any further details. The sequestration and detention of Farda-e-Eghtesad's staff were prompted by the publication of a video report- which has since been deleted - about the government's circumvention of international sanctions. Similarly, the daily Etemadhas received several threats from the government spurred by their journalistic activities, such as their analysis criticizing Iran's attacks on Israel, published on 13 April 13 2024.

Violence and surveillance

Iranian journalists suffer "physical and psychological violence," both in and outside of prison. Nobel laureate, journalist, and writer Narges Mohammadiwas sentenced to 154lashes, a punishment that flagrantly violates international human rights laws but is commonly inflicted on Iran's reporters. Even Iranian journalists in exile, particularly those working for BBC Persia and Iran International, report they've faced death threats and online abuse from the Iranian government and its allies.