On World Press Freedom Day, the United States recognized the bravery of Iranian journalists who are under intense government pressure, as Iran is ranked second in the world for imprisoning writers. The US Department of State praised journalists such as Niloufar Hamedi, Elahe Mohammadi, and Nazila Maroufian for their courage in bringing attention to the Iranian people despite the regime’s efforts to suppress them.
The challenges faced by these journalists are significant. Elahe Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi were previously detained for reporting on the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in custody of Iran’s morality police in 2022. After enduring temporary detention and receiving long prison sentences, their bail was eventually converted by the Tehran Appeals Court, leading to their release. Nazila Maroufian has also faced numerous arrests since the 2022 uprising and was subjected to sexual assault by regime forces, contributing to the Me Too movement’s fight against sexual abuse and assault of women.
Despite their release, Mohammadi, Hamedi, and Maroufian continue to face challenges as the Iranian government targets them for publishing pictures without mandatory hijab. The UN has condemned Iran’s crackdown on Islamic dress code as ‘gender apartheid,’ while Reporters Without Borders has criticized Iran for its harsh treatment of journalists. At least 23 journalists are currently imprisoned in Iran, with the country ranking 176th out of 180 countries alongside nations like North Korea, Afghanistan, Syria, and Eritrea for its treatment of journalists.
According to PEN America’s latest Freedom to Write Index released in 2023, Iran remains second highest country for imprisoning writers after China. This ranking remains consistent with last year’s report highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by journalists in Iran and underscoring the urgent need for press freedom in a country where freedom of expression is suppressed.
In conclusion, on this World Press Freedom Day we honor those brave individuals who have dedicated themselves to reporting despite facing immense pressure from their governments. We urge all nations to respect freedom of expression and promote press freedom as a fundamental right that allows us all to have access to accurate information that can shape our understanding of