Iranian Journalist Brothers Arrested ahead of Reporter's Day

Iranian authorities arrested two journalist brothers just days ahead of National Journalist's Day, local media reported. 

Mehdi and Majid Nikahd were both taken to an undisclosed location on August 4. 

There was no immediate information about the reason behind their arrest or the charges they face.

Mehdi Nikahd is the editor-in-chief of Nameh-e-Amir magazine and correspondent for the semi-official ILNA news agency in Markazi province. He has held the position of Director of the Press House in the province.

His brother Majid is the managing editor of the same magazine and a citizen journalist. He has been a member of the Moderate and Development political party in Markazi province.

Iran marks National Journalist's Day on August 8.

In recent months, the judiciary and security establishments have arrested a growing number of journalists and issued sentences against many of them.

Iran ranked as the world’s worst jailer of journalists in the Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) 2022 prison census, which documented those behind bars as of December 1. 

According to the New York-based media freedom watchdog, the Islamic Republic has detained at least 95 journalists during nationwide protests sparked by the September 2022 death in police custody of Mahsa Amini. 

Many have been released on bail while awaiting trial or summonses to serve multi-year sentences.