At least three female journalists have been arrested in Iran, local sources learned Monday, January 23, amid the protest movement sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in September.
"
In the past 48 hours, at least three journalists - Ms. Melika Hashemi, Ms. Saideh Shafiei and Mehrnoush Zarei - have been arrested
," the Tehran Journalists Association said in a statement.
Nearly 80 journalists arrested
No details were given on the reasons for the arrest of these journalists working for newspapers and an agency.
The reformist daily
Etemad
said they had been transferred to Evin prison in Tehran.
This newspaper estimates at 79 the number of journalists arrested since the beginning of the demonstrations in the country four months ago.
At the end of October, more than 300 Iranian journalists and photojournalists had criticized the authorities in an open letter for having "
arrested (their) colleagues and for having deprived them of their rights
", in particular "
access to their lawyers
".
Read alsoIn Iran, the daily lie of Mahsa, 28, ex-prison worker turned activist
Authorities say hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed amid protests since the September 16 death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini following her arrest by vice squad. for alleged violation of the dress code for women.