Iran reduces sentences of journalists who covered Amini’s death

TEHRAN: Iranian courts have reduced jail terms for two female journalists charged with collaborating with the United States, their lawyers told reformist newspapers on Sunday.

Elaheh Mohammadi, 37, and Niloufar Hamedi, 31, are out on bail after more than a year in Tehran´s Evin prison for their coverage of the September 2022 death in custody of Mahsa Amini which had sparked nationwide protests.

In January, Iran´s judiciary said it had launched new proceedings against the two women for posing for pictures without the mandatory headscarf upon their release that month. Two separate appeals courts in Tehran ruled to acquit the women of the charge of collaboration with the United States, the lawyers were quoted as saying by Shargh and Ham Mihan dailies.

Originally, Mohammadi had been sentenced to six years in jail while Hamedi had been handed a seven-year sentence, according to the judiciary.

The pair were also each given five-year sentences for collusion and conspiring against state security and one year for propaganda against the Islamic republic.