Three Iranian Journalists Given Five Days to Present Defense in Court

Prosecutors in Tehran’s Evin prison summoned three women journalists on April 26 and gave them five days to present their last defense in court, according to media reports, amid a crackdown on dissent and the media. 

The charges against Saeedeh Shafiei, Mehrnoosh Zarei and Nasim Sultan Beygi include "propaganda against" the regime.

The three journalists were arrested last year during nationwide protests sparked by the September 2022 death of a young woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody. They were later released on bail.

According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, Iranian authorities have arrested at least 95 other journalists since the eruption of the anti-government protests.

Also on April 26, the judiciary announced charges against two women journalists who have been incarcerated for seven months for covering the events surrounding Amini’s.

Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi are accused of "collaborating with the hostile American government, colluding against national security and engaging in propaganda activity” against the regime – accusations that could carry the death penalty.