Iranian journalists Niloufar Hamedi (right) and Elaheh Mohammadi, flash the victory sign after being released from prison, in Tehran, Iran, January 14, 2024
TWO Iranian journalists who were serving long prison sentences over their coverage of the death of Mahsa Amini have been released on bail pending an appeal, Iranian media has reported.
Niloufar Hamedia, who broke the news of Amini’s death in the custody of Iran’s morality police following her arrest for wearing her headscarf too loosely, and Elaheh Mohammadi, who wrote about Amini’s funeral, were sentenced in October to seven and six years in prison respectively on charges that included collaborating with the US government. The two women were detained in September 2022.
The ISNA news agency reported on Sunday that they had each been released on bail of $200,000 (around £157,000) and they were banned from leaving the country until the appeal has been heard.
The Committee for the Defence of Iranian People’s Rights (Codir) welcomes demonstrations across Iran, which have put pressure upon the theocratic dictatorship, but warns against intervention by the United States to force Iran in a particular direction
