Alireza Jabbari-Darestani

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Iranian security forces arrested Iranian journalist Alireza Jabbari-Darestani from his home in Tehran on September 23, 2022.

Jabbari-Darestani covers arts, culture, and local news for the state-run Mehr News Agency. 
Multiple sources with knowledge of Jabbari-Darestani’s case confirmed his arrest with CPJ on the condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal. They said he had covered protests in Tehran following the September 16 death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, after morality police arrested her for allegedly violating the country’s conservative dress law. 

CPJ was unable to determine where the journalist is held, any charges he faces, or the status of his health in prison. 

Authorities arrested dozens of journalists as the protests over Amini’s death spread across the country. Several of them were later released on bail.

CPJ emailed Iran’s mission to the United Nations in late 2022 for comment on the cases of imprisoned Iranian journalists but received no response.