Iran's Judiciary Opens New Case Against Jailed Female Journalists for Hijab Violation

Iran's judiciary has opened a new case against two jailed female journalists for appearing without a hijab upon their temporary release from prison, the judiciary's Mizan news agency reported. Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, who were respectively sentenced to 13 and 12 years in prison for their coverage of the death in custody of Kurdish-Iranian Mahsa Amini in 2022, were released on Sunday temporarily after paying bail. However, after footage of the defendants without hijab was released online, a new case has been filed against them, Mizan said referring to a video widely shared on social media showing the two women celebrating their release with family outdoors.

The death of Amini, who was held by the morality police for allegedly violating Iran's strict dress code, triggered months of nationwide anti-government protests, in one of the boldest challenges to the country's clerical leaders in decades. This case highlights the ongoing struggle for press freedom and women's rights in Iran and the continued suppression of dissenting voices by the government.