Iranian security forces arrested Iranian journalist and photojournalist Porya Mahdavi-Moghaddam on October 21, 2022.
Mahdavi-Moghaddam covers local news in his hometown Borujerd in western Lourestan province for the official state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
An anonymous source familiar with Mahdavi-Moghaddam’s case who spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity, citing fear of reprisal, said the journalist covered protests ahead of his arrest. Demonstrations began in Iran 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.
The source said that Mahdavi-Moghaddam was arrested on the street on his way home from his office.
CPJ was unable to determine what, if any, charges the journalist faces, or the status of the journalist’s health in prison.
Authorities arrested dozens of journalists in Iran in relation to their coverage of the demonstrations after Amini’s death.
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.