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Iranwire – Two journalists working for the state-run Iran Sports newspaper were fired after they criticized the management of the Ministry of Sports and Youth under former minister Hamid Sajjadi.
Ali Vahdani, a reporter for state TV, tweeted on August 10 that Azadeh Pirakooh and Mohsen Ajarloo were sacked due to their critical stance toward Sajjadi.
On August 1, President Ebrahim Raisi accepted the resignation of Sajjadi and appointed Kiumars Hashemi as caretaker minister of sports.
It was reportedly the third time Sajjadi tendered his resignation since he was injured in a helicopter crash in February.
There have been increasing concerns about the treatment of women in Iranian sports federations since his appointment as minister two years ago.
He was targeted by EU sanctions for exerting pressure on Iranian athletes to silence them and prevent them from taking a stand against the repression in Iran.
Iranian authorities have cracked down hard on dissent and the media since the eruption of nationwide protests sparked by Amini’s death, with dozens of activists, journalists and lawyers being arrested in recent months.
