Release of Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, Imprisoned for Reporting on Mahsa Amini's Death in Iran

Two female journalists who were imprisoned for over a year for covering the death of Mahsa Amini, which led to widespread protests in Iran, have been released. Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi were freed on bail and are currently appealing against their sentences. Ms Amini died while in custody of Iran's morality police, who detained her for allegedly violating the country's strict hijab laws. The state coroner claimed her death was due to pre-existing medical conditions, but a UN human rights expert concluded that she died as a result of beatings by the morality police. Ms Hamedi broke the news of Ms Amini's death and shared a photograph online, which showed her father and grandmother embracing with the caption: "The black dress of mourning has become our national flag." Ms Mohammadi wrote about Ms Amini's funeral and the subsequent protests that spread across Iran. The journalists were arrested shortly after the protests began and were charged with collaborating with the US government and posing a threat to national security. They were handed prison sentences of 13 and 12 years each. Following their release, videos circulated on social media showing the journalists reuniting with their loved ones. It has been reported that they were required to pay a bail of $200,000 and are now prohibited from leaving the country.