One week after her detention, Iranian authorities reportedly freed journalist Elnaz Mohammadi from the Hammihan daily on bail; however, her sister, who is also a reporter, is still being held.
Elnaz Mohammadi was imprisoned after visiting the prosecutor’s office “for an explanation,” according to the reformist newspaper Hammihan, but she has subsequently been “released from Evin jail on bail.”
After reporting for work at Hammihan on September 29 following the funeral of Mahsa Amini, her sister Elahe Mohammadi was detained and is still being held.
Since the death in detention on September 16 of Amini, a 22-year-old ethnic Kurd detained for allegedly violating stringent clothing codes for women, there have been protests around the country in Iran.
One of the earliest protests occurred during the funeral procession in Saqez, Amini’s hometown in the Kurdistan province, and more than four months of turmoil followed.
“Propaganda against the system and conspiracy to act against national security” were the charges against Elahe Mohammadi.
Authorities claim that hundreds of people have died during protests, including dozens of security personnel.
There have been thousands of arrests in Iran, including prominent citizens, journalists, and attorneys.
According to the Tehran Journalists Association, ten journalists detained in connection with the protests are still being held.
On the 44th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in 1979, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei decided last week to commute or pardon the sentences of a “substantial number” of prisoners, some of whom were jailed during the protests.