Imprisoned Iranian female journalists win top UN press freedom prize

03-05-2023 : The awarding of the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize to three Iranian female journalists who are currently imprisoned is a significant recognition of their dedication to truth and accountability. Niloufar Hamedi, Elaheh Mohammadi, and Narges Mohammadi have been honored for their outstanding work in the field of journalism, particularly for their reporting on the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died while being held by the morality police in Iran for wearing her headscarf too loosely.

Amini’s death touched off widespread protests across Iran, which posed a serious challenge to the Islamic Republic. The reporting of Hamedi and Mohammadi was crucial in spreading the word about the anger that followed, particularly in the days immediately after Amini’s death. Their work has also shed light on the broader crackdown on press freedom and dissent in Iran, which has seen nearly 100 journalists arrested amid the protests.

However, Hamedi and Mohammadi have paid a heavy price for their commitment to reporting the truth. They are facing charges of collaborating with the United States, acting against national security, and creating propaganda against the system. Both journalists have been detained in Iran’s Evin Prison since September, with Hamedi reportedly being held in solitary confinement.

Meanwhile, Narges Mohammadi, who is one of Iran’s most prominent activists, has been repeatedly detained and imprisoned by authorities for her work in defending human rights and campaigning against the death penalty. She is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence in Evin Prison. Despite her imprisonment, she continues to report in print from prison and has interviewed other women prisoners for her book, “White Torture.”

The awarding of the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize to these three journalists is a powerful recognition of their bravery and commitment to reporting the truth, even in the face of severe repression and censorship. It also underscores the importance of defending press freedom and the rights of journalists, particularly at a time when such freedoms are under threat in many parts of the world.

However, the journalists’ reporting also led to their indictment by Iran’s judiciary on charges of collaborating with the United States, acting against national security, and creating “propaganda against the system.” They have been in prison since September, with Hamedi in solitary confinement. The Chair of the international jury of media professionals that chose the winners, Zainab Salbi, praised the bravery of the three women and their work, which she said “led to a historical women-led revolution.” She added that they had paid a high price for their commitment to reporting on the truth, and the international community was committed to honoring them and ensuring their voices continue to echo worldwide until they are safe and free.

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