On January 9, 2026, Hamed Araghi, a sports photojournalist, was detained by Iranian security forces in the northern city of Karaj and transferred to an undisclosed location.
CPJ was unable to confirm the charges against Araghi or his current whereabouts. His Instagram account has been deactivated.
Araghi was among journalists detained after a nationwide internet shutdown began on January 8 as part of Iran’s bloodiest crackdown since the 1979 revolution. On December 28, 2025, demonstrations over economic grievances expanded into nationwide protests. The death toll has been impossible to verify due to the communications shutdown, with estimates in late January 2026 ranging from 3,000 to 30,000.
CPJ’s January 2026 email to the Iranian mission to the United Nations in New York requesting comment did not receive a response.