Iranian security forces arrested Iranian journalist Saeede Fathi from her home in Tehran on October 16, 2022.
Fathi is a longtime freelance reporter covering both international and local sports news for a variety of Iranian publications. She previously appeared on U.S.-Congress funded Voice of America’s Farsi service as a commentator.
Prior to her arrest she used Twitter to cover a fire in October at Tehran’s Evin Prison, where many people imprisoned during national protests are held. The protests 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.
CPJ reviewed Fathi’s tweets after the start of the protests, but they have since disappeared from the social media platform.
The semi-reformist state-run Shargh Daily reported on Twitter that security forces didn’t provide any explanation or warrant at the time of Fathi’s arrest.
CPJ was unable to determine what, if any, charges the journalist faces, where she is held, or the status of her health in prison.
Authorities arrested dozens of journalists as the protests over Amini’s death spread across the country. Several of them were later released on bail.
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.