Retaliation Against Journalists Through Imprisonment of Saeida Shafiei and Nasim Soltan-Beigi
“Reporters Without Borders” reported the imprisonment of Saeida Shafiei and Nasim Soltan-Beigi and announced that their imprisonment constitutes retaliation against journalists.
Saeida Shafiei and Nasim Soltan-Beigi, Iranian journalists who had published reports regarding nationwide protests, were sentenced to three years and six months in prison. Saeida Shafiei was transferred to Evin Prison on November 19, and Nasim Soltan-Beigi on November 21.
They were convicted by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on charges of participating in “unlawful gatherings” and “propaganda against the state,” despite the fact that their journalistic duty requires them to record and document events in order to prepare news reports.
The organization “Reporters Without Borders” published a statement regarding the imprisonment of the two aforementioned journalists, stating: “These two journalists, like many of their colleagues in Iran, are paying the price for covering the Woman, Life, Freedom movement. The Islamic Republic continues to retaliate against journalists who have performed their duty in the field of public rights to obtain news and information since September 16, 2022. These courageous women should be appreciated, not imprisoned. We call for their immediate and unconditional release.”
In addition to Ms. Shafiei and Soltan-Beigi, 10 other journalists have been arrested since the beginning of the 2022 protests and continue to serve time in prison on charges of propaganda against the state.
