Two Iranian journalists, imprisoned for helping to publicize the death in custody of Mahsa Amini in 2022, were released on bail on Sunday, local media announced.
Niloufar Hamedi, 31, and Elaheh Mohammadi, 36, “were temporarily released on bail from Evin prison” in Tehran, the reformist daily announced Shargh on his site and one of the lawyers.
A photo and video of the two young women posing, smiling and holding hands, near the prison were posted on social networks.
Mme Mohammadi, reporter Ham Mihanwas sentenced in 2023 to six years in prison for collaboration with the United States, five years for plotting against the security of the country and one year for propaganda against the Islamic Republic.
Mme Hamedi, newspaper photographer Sharghfor his part, received a seven-year prison sentence for cooperation with the United States, five years for plotting against the security of the country and one year for propaganda against the Islamic Republic.
The two journalists had been imprisoned in Tehran since their arrest in September 2022, a few days after the death of Mahsa Amini.
Their bail amounted to 100 billion rials (around 170,000 euros) each.
The two women are prohibited from leaving the country and should remain out of prison until their appeal trial, the date of which is not known, said the local Fars agency.
They had been arrested for having covered the death, on September 16, of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurd who was arrested in Tehran by the moral police who accused her of having violated the dress code of the Islamic Republic, notably imposing on women wearing the veil in public.
Niloufar Hamedi had gone to the hospital where Mahsa Amini had been in a coma for three days before dying, while Elaheh Mohammadi had gone to the young woman’s hometown of Saqqez (west) to cover her funeral.
Several hundred people, including members of the police, were killed and thousands arrested during the demonstrations which took place in October and November before ebbing. Seven men were executed for their involvement in this movement.
More than 90 Iranian journalists were harassed by the authorities during the protests, according to local media.
Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi were supported by organizations defending press freedom, including Reporters Without Borders, which described the conviction of these two women “punished for the exercise of their profession” as “scandalous”.