More than 70 journalists detained in wake of Iran protests

Evin Prison is seen in Tehran, Iran, on October 17, 2022. (Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters)

More than 70 journalists have been arrested in Iran since mid-September, when protests broke out nationwide following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the country’s morality police.

“Iranian authorities are trying to silence a critical moment in the country’s history, and in the process have made Iran among the world’s top jailers of journalists in an astonishingly short time,” said CPJ President Jodie Ginsberg.

At least 21 of those journalists have since been released on bail. CPJ is continuing to maintain an updated list of those jailed for their coverage of the protests, including journalists detained at the demonstrations themselves and those arrested weeks later in reprisal for their work.

CPJ honors courageous journalists with International Press Freedom Awards

2022 IPFA awardees (clockwise from left, with image credits): Niyaz Abdullah (Elyaas Ehsas); Abraham Jiménez Enoa (Núria López Torres); Pham Doan Trang (Paul Mooney); Sevgil Musaieva (Ukrainska Pravda)

CPJ has honored remarkable journalists from Cuba, Iraqi Kurdistan, Russia, Ukraine, and Vietnam with its 2022 press freedom awards. All have withstood immense challenges to bring the public independent reporting amid rampant disinformation and war.

This year’s recipients of CPJ’s International Press Freedom Awards are: Cuban freelance journalist Abraham Jiménez Enoa; Iraqi Kurdish freelance journalist Niyaz Abdullah; Sevgil Musaieva, editor-in-chief of Ukrainian independent newspaper Ukrainska Pravda; and Vietnamese journalist Pham Doan Trang, who is serving a nine-year prison sentence under a provision that bans making or spreading news against the state.

CPJ has also honored Galina Timchenko, editor of the independent Russian news website Meduza, with the 2022 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. Timchenko fled Russia due to pressure from the authorities during the previous invasion of Ukraine in 2014. The Gwen Ifill award is presented annually by CPJ’s board of directors in recognition of extraordinary and sustained commitment to press freedom.

More From CPJ

IMPRISONED JOURNALISTS

Russia-Ukraine war

Click here for CPJ’s updates, in-depth reports, and statements on the invasion

An AFP journalist runs as smoke rises behind after a bombardment in Bakhmut, Eastern Ukraine, on July 31, 2022. (AFP/Bulent Kilic)

Safety advice for journalists covering war and related unrest

War reporting: English | Ukrainian | Russian
Physical safety: Reporting during flash floods
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Guide to understanding Russia’s “fake news” laws

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Deaths in Ukraine

Motive confirmed (12)

Ihor Hudenko, Freelance, killed in Kharkiv on February 26

Yevhenii Sakun, LIVE, killed in Kyiv on March 1

Viktor Dedov, Sigma-TV, killed in Mariupol on March 11

Oksana Haidar, Freelance, killed in Shevchenkove around March 11 – April 7

Brent Renaud, Time, killed in Irpin on March 13

Maks Levin, LB.ua, body found April 1 near Huta-Mezhyhirska, missing on March 13

Pierre Zakrzewski, Fox News, killed in Horenka on March 14

Oleksandra Kuvshynova, Fox News, killed in Horenka on March 14

Oksana Baulina, The Insider, killed in Kyiv on March 23

Mantas Kvedaravicius, Freelance, killed in Mariupol on April 2

Vira Hyrych, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, killed in Kyiv on April 28

Frédéric Leclerc-Imhoff, BFMTV, killed in Lysychansk on May 30

Motive unconfirmed (3)

Zoreslav Zamoysky, Freelance, killed in Bucha around March 4 – April 12

Roman Nezhyborets, Dytynets, killed in Yahidne around March 5-9

Yevhenii Bal, Freelance, killed in Manhush on April 2

Digital and Physical Safety – Covering the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

Safety Kit – Easy-to-follow, practical guides for physical, digital, and psychological safety

Emergency Support – Tips on personal protective equipment, training, insurance, and emergency grants

Journalist Ayub Ali Warty was recently detained and charged with defamation in Iraqi Kurdistan. (Photo: Ayub Ali Warty)

Journalists Attacked

Jamal Khashoggi

MURDERED

Jamal Khashoggi was killed on October 2, 2018, shortly after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Khashoggi was a former editor-in-chief of the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan, and a columnist for The Washington Post.

While inside, a group of Saudis confronted Khashoggi, killed him, and dismembered his body. A report released by the CIA into the killing of the U.S. resident found that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the journalist’s murder.

Learn more about Khashoggi