Iranian journalist Forough Saminia is imprisoned in Lakan prison in the northern city of Rasht, which is her hometown. Saminia writes columns for several Iranian feminist outlets such as Bidarzani and Zanan-e Emruz magazine as well as Persian exile-based online magazine Peace Mark.
Iranian authorities arrested Saminia in northern Gilan province on August 16th, 2023, and later charged her with "acting against national security" and "propaganda against the state." Her arrest followed her coverage of the 2022 “Women, Life, Freedom” movement which was sparked by the death in morality police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
Saminia was temporarily released on bail on October 1, 2023, according to the exile-based Campaign to Defend Civil and Political Prisoners in Iran.
On May 11, 2024 Saminia was sentenced to six years in prison for “assembly and colluding against the system” and “being a member of a all-female club of activists,” the group said; she began serving her sentence on July 13.
In prison, Saminia has faced restricted access to legal representation and has limited communication with family. Saminia is diabetic, and has been denied medication in prison.
CPJ emailed Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York in late 2024 for comment on the case of Saminia and those of other imprisoned Iranian journalists but received no response.