An online campaign has been launched to call for the release of two women journalists who have been imprisoned in Iran for over 300 days for covering the events surrounding Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody.
Friends and families of Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi initiated the #Elahe_Niloofar hashtag campaign on July 23, after the husbands of Hamedi and Mohammadi announced that their second court hearings were set for July 25 and 26, respectively.
Elnaz Mohammadi, a journalist herself, expressed her heartfelt longing for her imprisoned sister.
“You have always been this image for me. Firm and humble. We are waiting for your day of freedom. Waiting for the day of freedom of Niloofar too, our other sister,” she tweeted.
Well-known civil activist and political prisoner Arash Sadeghi also joined the online campaign by posting a picture of the two imprisoned journalists on his Twitter account.
“Journalism is not just a job; it is a belief in discovering the truth. Anyone who seeks enlightenment through the light of truth will find a prominent place in society. There is no place for a journalist in prison,” he wrote.
Barbad Golshiri, a renowned Iranian sculptor and artist, joined the virtual campaign and wrote: “#Elahe_Niloofer, your names will forever be associated with the progressive, beautiful, and poignant #women_life_freedom movement.”
Aboozar Zaman, the son of the late singer Hossein Zaman, known for his critical stance toward the government, described Hamedi and Mohammadi as “tellers of truth” and demanded their immediate release.
Social activist Mohammad Karim Asayesh praised the two journalists “not only for being women’s voices in their editorial works but also for amplifying their voices in the women’s movement, advocating issues such as fighting harassment and promoting women’s presence in stadiums.”
Mansoureh Hosseini, a TV anchor and reporter, said that Hamedi and Mohammadi “are the living proof of this government’s hostility toward women, life, and freedom.”
Hamedi, a reporter for Shargh newspaper, and Mohammadi of Hammihan newspaper went on trial in May on charges including collaborating with the “hostile” government of the United States, colluding to commit crimes against national security, and engaging in propaganda activities against the regime. The charges could carry the death penalty.
Their lawyers said that they were not granted the opportunity to defend the journalists in court.
Human rights groups and media freedom watchdogs have condemned the arrest and prosecution of Mohammadi and Hamedi, as well as the Islamic Republic’s ongoing clampdown on dissent and the media.
Source » iranwire