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Iranwire – The Islamic Republic judiciary has launched new proceedings against two journalists for posing without the mandatory headscarf upon their release after nearly a year and a half behind bars.
Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi were released on January 14 from Tehran’s Evin prison, where they had been held for their coverage of the 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini.
Images of the two journalists smiling outside the prison, without a mandatory headscarf, widely circulated on social media.
The Mizan website, which is affiliated with the judiciary, said the images showed “the women without hijab” and “a new case was filed against the defendants” as a result.
In October, the 36-year-old Mohammadi and Hamedi, 31, were sentenced to 12 and 13 years in prison, respectively, on charges including collaborating with the US government, colluding to commit crimes against national security, and engaging in propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic.
They were temporarily released on $200,000 bail and barred from leaving the country pending an appeal of their sentences.
Authorities cracked down hard on the monthslong protests sparked by Amini’s death in September 2022 while she was in police custody for an alleged hijab violation.
More than 500 people were killed and over 22,000 others were unlawfully detained in the clampdown, including dozens of journalists, activists say.
Following biased trials, the judiciary handed down stiff sentences, including the death penalty, to protesters. At least eight of them have been executed so far.
