Released journalists face new hijab case from Iran's judiciary

The Iranian judiciary has announced that it has initiated a new case against two female journalists who were photographed without wearing the compulsory hijab after being released from prison. Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi had spent 17 months in detention and had played a role in reporting the death of Mahsa Amini, which triggered widespread protests against the hijab laws in 2022. The journalists had been sentenced to seven and six years respectively on charges of national security, which they denied. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) criticized the trials, stating that the defense lawyers were given short notice, limited time to examine the case files, and were unable to address the judge. The court allowed the women's release on bail while they appealed their sentences. The decision was met with joy by the newspapers they work for and many Iranians, who shared pictures of them outside the Evin prison. According to Iranian media, over 90 journalists have been questioned or arrested since the protests began following Mahsa Amini's death. Hamedi, a journalist for Sharq newspaper, had posted a photo of Mahsa Amini's father and grandmother embracing each other in the hospital after her death. Mohammadi, a reporter for Hammihan newspaper, covered Amini's funeral, where mourners chanted slogans like "Woman, life, freedom." The two journalists were arrested later and accused of collaborating with the US government and spreading propaganda against the establishment. They denied the charges, stating that they were simply doing their jobs.