Two Iranian journalists, imprisoned for helping to publicize the death in custody of young Kurd Mahsa (Jina) Amini in September, were sentenced to prison terms, official media announced on Sunday, October 22.
Journalist Elaheh Mohammadi was sentenced to six years in prison for collaboration with the United States, five years for plotting against the country’s security and one year for propaganda against the Islamic Republic, according to the agency from the Mizan Online judicial authority.
Journalist Niloofar Hamedi was sentenced to seven years in prison for cooperation with the United States, five years in prison for plotting against the security of the country and one year for propaganda against the Islamic Republic, added the same source.
“Propaganda” against the State
Mme Mohammadi, 36, reporter for Hammihanand Mme Hamedi, 31, newspaper journalist Shargh, have been detained since September 2022 in Evin prison in Tehran; their trials began in May. The verdict can be appealed within 20 days, Mizan Online said.
The two women were imprisoned for covering up the death, on September 16, of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd arrested in Tehran by the moral police, who accused her of having violated the dress code of the Islamic Republic, requiring women in particular to wear the veil in public.
They were accused on November 8 of “propaganda” against the Islamic Republic and conspiracy against national security.
Iranian justice on Tuesday sentenced Mahsa Amini’s lawyer to one year in prison for “propaganda” against the State, for, according to its defense, “spoke to foreign and local media about the case”.