Iran Labels Two Female Reporters Covering Hijab Suspicious Death as 'American Spies'

Arrested Immediately After First Report on Suspicious Death and Imprisoned in Notorious Political Prison
Death Penalty Possible... Concerns Arise Over "Start of Full-Scale Media Suppression"

The Iranian intelligence agency has labeled two female journalists who reported on the 'hijab suspicious death' as CIA agents. The photo shows students from Tehran University shouting slogans at security forces outside the school gate on the 13th (local time). Photo by AFP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] The Iranian government has issued a statement labeling two female journalists who reported on the 'hijab suspicious death' case as American spies.

According to a report by the British Guardian on the 29th (local time), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Intelligence of Iran jointly declared that female journalists Niloufar Hamedi (NH) and Elahe Mohammadi (EM) are agents of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence accused the two women of being "key news sources for foreign media," stating that "Hamedi disguised herself as a journalist and approached Mahsa Amini's family to force them to disclose information about Amini's death." Furthermore, the IRGC and the Ministry of Intelligence claimed that the suspicious death protests were pre-planned operations by the U.S. CIA, Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, and other Western intelligence agencies.

Hamedi was the first journalist to report that Amini collapsed while in custody after being arrested for not wearing a hijab. The publication of photos showing Amini in a coma on a hospital bed and her family comforting each other in the hospital corridor sparked nationwide protests. Mohammadi was arrested on the 22nd of last month, shortly after reporting on Amini's funeral held in her hometown of Saqez. Mohammadi's lawyer reported that security forces broke down the door and confiscated Mohammadi's personal belongings, including her cellphone and laptop. They are currently believed to be detained in the notorious political prisoner facility, Evin Prison.

Their arrests have caused immense shock and fear among Iranian journalists, as espionage for foreign governments is a capital offense in Iran. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) estimated that over 40 journalists have been detained since the protests began.

An Iranian journalist who requested anonymity said, "They are closely monitoring us, and I have been advised to sever all ties with foreign correspondents," adding, "If there is any record of calls received on my cellphone from abroad, even if from friends, it could pose a great risk to me." Another journalist working for an Iranian news outlet expressed concern, saying, "The move to label the two arrested journalists as spies is an attack on Iranian media," and warned, "Now they will arrest more journalists to prevent information about what is happening in Iran from reaching abroad, and in severe cases, may execute their own citizens on espionage charges."

In Iran, anti-government protests have continued for over six weeks since Mahsa Amini (22) died three days after being arrested by police for not wearing a hijab on the 16th of last month, with the death toll reaching at least 234.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.