This year alone, the Islamic Republic has arbitrarily prosecuted at least 91 journalists, media activists and outlets, as indicated by the latest report from the Defending Free Flow of Information (DeFFI).
In its latest quarterly report, the non-profit organization which monitors and documents press freedom in Iran, says Tehran is continuing its systematic and targeted suppression of media and journalists.
Twelve journalists and media activists were also arbitrarily arrested – with three journalists transferred to prison and nine journalists summoned by judicial and security authorities.
The home of one journalist was raided by the regime’s security forces, while the property of another was confiscated.
A news agency also expelled its news photographer for criticizing government officials, the report said.
During this period, 24 journalists and media executives were sentenced to a cumulative 14 years and seven months in prison – and fined a total equivalent of over 15 million US dollars.
The sentences also included travel, work and social media bans for many of the journalists.
In nearly 100 instances, media professionals have been denied family visits and access to a lawyer, experienced confiscation of personal belongings without legal judgment, and subjected to extrajudicial imprisonment in solitary confinement.
During the first three months of 2024, the most common accusation against journalists and media activists in Iran has been "publishing lies to disturb public opinion," comprising 64% of legal cases.
The organization says this is emblematic of the Islamic Republic’s systematic effort to discredit journalists and non-governmental media outside the bounds of criminal law.
Earlier this week, the Persian-language site of the International Federation of Journalists released its annual report on the suppression and pressure on Iranian journalists over the past year.
That report, cites that at least 27 journalists and media activists were detained, 27 journalists were summoned, and 21 others were sentenced to punishments including imprisonment.
Other issues such as expulsion from the workplace, deprivation of employment for some journalists, and the detention, suspension, closure, and revocation of publishing licenses for some newspapers, were also cited in that report.
