Two female journalists in Iran, Elaha Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamidi, who were arrested during the women’s protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, have been sentenced to six to seven years in prison.
According to Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court issued the verdict on Sunday, October 22, finding Elaha Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamidi guilty of three criminal charges.
Based on the ruling, Elaha Mohammadi was convicted of “collaborating with the hostile government of the United States” and sentenced to six years in prison, “conspiring and gathering to commit crimes against national security,” resulting in five years of imprisonment, and “engaging in propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” leading to one year of imprisonment.
Niloufar Hamidi, on the other hand, was convicted of “collaborating with the hostile government of the United States,” resulting in a seven-year prison sentence, “conspiring and gathering to commit crimes against national security,” leading to five years of imprisonment, and “engaging in propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” leading to one year of imprisonment.
If these sentences are upheld in the appellate court, Elaha Mohammadi will serve six years of her total 12-year sentence, and Niloufar Hamidi will serve seven years of her total 13-year sentence.
Elaha Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamidi were arrested during nationwide protests last year for covering the news of Mahsa Amini’s death. They were accused of “collaborating with the hostile government,” an allegation vehemently denied by both the journalists and their lawyers.
