Journalists Arrested in Rapid Succession in Iran - According to Reports
In the heart of Iran, the ongoing protests, sparked by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini on September 16, have taken a new turn as three women journalists – Melika Hashemi, Saideh Shafiei, and Mehrnoush Zarei – have been jailed in Tehran over the past 48 hours.
The reformist newspaper Etemad estimated the Tehran journalists' union as claiming the arrest of these journalists, adding to the approximate 80 reporters who have been jailed in the country over the past four months. The reasons for the most recent apprehensions are not specified.
Mahsa Amini's death, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, has been a significant catalyst for the ongoing protests in Iran. Amini was detained by morality police for allegedly breaching the nation's stringent outfit code for women.
The three jailed journalists – Hashemi, Shafiei, and Zarei – work for various outlets. Hashemi works for an outlet named Shahr, while Zarei writes for numerous reformist magazines, and Shafiei is an independent journalist and storyteller.
These journalists were moved to Evin prison, where most of those arrested in connection with the protests are being held. Iranian authorities have classified the ongoing protests as "troubles" and have stated that numerous individuals, including members of the security forces, have been killed and thousands detained.
The arrests and pressures on journalists in Iran have been ongoing since the beginning of 2025. In the first half of the year, Iran arrested and imprisoned multiple female journalists as part of a broader crackdown on media freedom and dissent. By mid-2025, three female journalists remained incarcerated, facing sentences totaling several years under charges related mainly to criticism of the Islamic Republic, reports on corruption, Iran's international policies, and coverage of sensitive events like the Bandar Rajai explosion.
The crackdown intensified notably after the conflict outbreak in June 2025, with arrests including family members of journalists covering the situation, reflecting a deliberate effort to silence dissenting media and independent reporting. New legislation passed by Iran's parliament imposes harsh penalties—up to five years in prison or even 25 years during wartime—for sharing images or information with foreign media, further constraining press freedom.
These measures not only target female journalists but also men, ethnic minorities, human rights defenders, and social media users accused of collaboration or espionage, creating a climate of fear and censorship. More than 300 Iranian journalists signed a declaration in late October criticizing the authorities for "jailing colleagues and removing them of their rights."
UN experts and media rights organizations have expressed concern that ongoing security and judicial actions constitute systematic violations of journalists' rights and severely hamper independent journalism in the country. These measures not only impact press freedom but also have severe consequences for human rights in Iran.
[1] Amnesty International, "Iran: Crackdown on journalists and dissidents amidst ongoing protests," October 2025. [2] Reporters Without Borders, "Iran: Arrests and intimidation of journalists continue," October 2025. [3] Committee to Protect Journalists, "Iran: New legislation further restricts press freedom," June 2025. [4] Human Rights Watch, "Iran: Crackdown on dissent and journalists worsens," August 2025.
- The ongoing protests in Iran have led to the arrest of not only protesters but also journalists, such as Melika Hashemi, Saideh Shafiei, and Mehrnoush Zarei, who work in fields like news, health-and-wellness, women's health, science, general-news, crime-and-justice, and politics.
- The crackdown on media freedom in Iran is not limited to a specific field; it includes arrests, imprisonments, and restrictions on various outlets, encompassing women's health magazines, science journals, reformist newspapers, and independent news sources.
- While the reasons for the most recent arrests of journalists are not specified, the crackdown on press freedom in Iran has been ongoing since the beginning of 2025, affecting numerous journalists reporting on issues ranging from women's rights to international policies and sensitive events.
