Iran's judiciary announced on Monday (January 15th) its intention to prosecute two journalists for appearing in public without the compulsory veil in the Islamic Republic after being released from prison the day before.
Photos circulated on social media on Sunday showing Niloufar Hamedi, 31, and Elaheh Mohammadi, 36, posing bareheaded outside Tehran's Evin prison, where they were held for nearly 17 months for helping to publicize the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in 2022.
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A new complaint has been filed with Tehran's Revolutionary Court against the two journalists "after the publication of their photos without a veil," and will lead to prosecution, the Mizan Online news agency reported.
Deposit of 100 billion rials
The two journalists were arrested for covering the death on 16 September 2022 of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman who was arrested in Tehran by the morality police for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic's dress code, which requires women to wear the veil in public. His death was the starting point of a vast protest movement in the country.
Elaheh Mohammadi, a reporter for Ham Mihan, was sentenced in 2023 to six years in prison for collaborating with the United States, five years for conspiracy against the country's security, and one year for propaganda against the Islamic Republic.
Niloufar Hamedi, a photographer for the Shargh newspaper, was sentenced to seven years in prison for cooperating with the United States, five years in prison for conspiracy against the country's security and one year for propaganda against the Islamic Republic. They were released in exchange for bail of 100 billion rials (about 170,000 euros), each pending appeal, according to Mizan Online.