WANA (Feb 11) – Contrary to the expectations of many of the opponents of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the two journalists who were arrested in connection with the death of Mahsa Amini have been granted full amnesty.

 

The fact that this news did not bring joy to reformists inside the country or to the opponents who seek to overthrow the government in Iran raises questions in itself.

 

These two journalists, Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi, have been among the reformist, pro-Western journalists who have attended training courses abroad. These courses are often held by foreign governments and intelligence services opposing Iran, focusing on journalist training and education.

 

Iran has always been skeptical about the outcomes of these programs, believing that most participants have previously been transformed into media operatives for the West inside Iran, with the goal of regime change.

 

It is believed that Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi were granted amnesty after acknowledging that their media activism in the Mahsa Amini case served the agenda of opponents of the Islamic Republic and cooperating with the court in this regard.

Iranian journalists Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi. Social Media / WANA News Ageency

Iranian journalists Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi. Social Media / WANA News Agency

Throughout the months they spent in prison, neither the reformist movement nor the staunch opponents of the Islamic Republic seriously demanded their release or took any significant legal action in their defense.

 

 

In fact, they seemed more pleased when harsher sentences were issued against these journalists by the courts of the Islamic Republic, as it allowed them to further exploit the verdicts for political purposes.

 

It can practically be said that, aside from the families and genuine supporters of these journalists, neither hardline reformists nor regime-change advocates are happy about their release.

 

This stance taken by political opponents of the Islamic Republic has led many political and social activists to lose faith in opposition leaders—both those inside the country and those operating abroad.

 

What was the story behind the arrest of these two journalists?

The legal case against Iranian journalists Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, who were arrested following the death of Mahsa Amini, has been officially closed following an amnesty ruling, their lawyers announced on Tuesday, February 11.

 

Niloufar Hamedi was detained on September 22, 2022, after reporting on Amini’s death while in the custody of Iran’s morality police. After 13 months in detention, she was sentenced by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court to 13 years in prison on charges of “collaborating with a hostile government,” “assembly and collusion against national security,” and “propaganda against the regime.”

 

Elaheh Mohammadi, a journalist for Hammihan newspaper, was arrested on September 29, 2022, for covering Amini’s funeral in Saqqez. She faced similar charges and was sentenced to 12 years in prison by the same court.

 

Both journalists were temporarily released on January 14, 2024, after spending 17 months in detention, posting bail of approximately 117,647$ each.

Iranian journalists Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi. Social Media / WANA News Ageency

Iranian journalists Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi. Social Media / WANA News Ageency

Asghar Jahangir, the spokesperson for Iran’s Judiciary, stated on October 13, 2024, that the sentence of five years of discretionary imprisonment for Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, journalists from Shargh and Ham-Mihan newspapers, would be enforced.

 

The Judiciary announced that a new case had been filed against these two journalists due to the publication of images of them without mandatory hijabs after their temporary release from prison.

 

Five days later, the lawyers of the two journalists reported that their clients had been summoned to Evin Prison for the execution of their five-year discretionary imprisonment sentences.

 

Today, the three lawyers representing the journalists announced that following an appeal to the court, both had been acquitted of the charge of “collaboration with a hostile government” and had also been granted amnesty for two other charges. As a result, their cases have been closed.

 

During their detention and imprisonment, numerous activists and human rights organizations had called for their release and acquittal.