Journalist arrested, more than 80 media workers detained in Iran
- Mehdi Beyk, political editor of reformist newspaper Etemad was arrested, and his mobile phone and notebook were confiscated
- Female journalists being held in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran, include Niloofar Hamedi, one of the first to publicise Mahsa Amini case
The head of the political editorial department at the reformist newspaper Etemad has been arrested in Iran, the paper reported on Friday. Mehdi Beyk was arrested on Thursday and his mobile phone and notebook were confiscated.
In recent weeks, numerous Iranian journalists have been detained as part of a wave of arrests. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists in New York, more than 80 media workers have already been arrested.
The possibilities for reporting are massively restricted in the country.
Iran’s political leadership has been under enormous pressure since nationwide protests broke out in mid-September.
Triggered by the death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody, Tehran has plunged into its worst political crisis in decades. The 22-year-old had been arrested more than three months ago for violating strict Islamic dress codes relating to her hijab.
Some female journalists are being held in the notorious Evin prison in the capital Tehran. Journalist Niloofar Hamedi of the reform newspaper Shargh, who was one of the first to publicise the Amini case, and her colleague Elaheh Mohammadi are also imprisoned there.