‘Don’t step outside your house. You are going to be arrested again.’

Center for Human Rights in Iran

September 3, 2025 — The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to be one of the most dangerous places in the world for independent journalists to work. Journalists who stray from the official state line in their reporting are subjected to threats, surveillance, office closures, arbitrary arrests, and legal prosecution.

CHRI has compiled a comprehensive list of arrests, summonses, and judicial actions taken against journalists so far this year, presented below. In addition, CHRI conducted an in-depth interview with a female journalist in Iran, discussing the current conditions faced by media workers in the country. The full interview can be read below.

“Locking up independent journalists is a critical part of the Islamic Republic’s strategy to silence dissent and hold onto power,” said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI). “The international community should speak out for the individuals in Iran sacrificing their livelihoods and often their freedom to speak truth to power.”

CHRI calls on international journalists and rights organizations, the UN, and governments worldwide to demand the freedom of imprisoned journalists in Iran and respect for the right to freedom of the press.

According to Reporters without Borders, at least 21 journalists are currently detained in Iran, ranking Iran 176th in press freedoms out of 180 countries—one of the worst in the world.

While Article 24 of Iran’s constitution guarantees press freedom, the country’s press laws codify the state’s ability to repress, allowing prosecution for charges such as “spreading false information,” “insulting the Supreme Leader,” “propaganda against the state,” or “endangering the Islamic Republic.”

Harassment, Arrests, and Judicial Pressure

Since the start of 2025, multiple journalists and media workers have faced intimidation and legal action. For example:

  • Saeideh Shafiei, journalist and former political prisoner, had her SIM card blocked by security agencies, forcing her to deactivate her social media accounts and sign a pledge requiring her to publish 20 pro-government social media posts, her husband Hassan Homayoun announced on July 31, 2025. “The charges against her are based on tweets and posts for which she had previously been imprisoned,” he added. Shafiei was previously sentenced to four years and three months in prison for “propaganda activities against the system” and “gathering and collusion against national security.” She was released in February 2025.
  • Soltanali and Farshid Abedi, two journalists from Sistan and Baluchistan, were summoned to the Public and Revolutionary Zahedan Prosecutor’s Office on charges of “spreading falsehoods” following a complaint filed by the Southeast Railway Company on August 8, 2025. The current status of this ongoing legal case is unknown.
  • Mansour Iranpour, a media activist based in Kerman, was summoned in early August 2025 by Branch 3 of the city’s Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office on charges of “spreading falsehoods” for a critical post about the governor of Kerman on social media. The current status of this ongoing legal case is unknown.
  • Omid Faraghat, a journalist and political media activist, was sentenced to three months in prison by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court for alleged “propaganda against the regime” following a hearing held on July 13, 2025, while Branch 3 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court acquitted him of other charges.
  • Meysam Rashidi was arrested on August 5, 2025 in Ardabil following a complaint from the city’s mayor and the issuance of a temporary detention order after Rashidi published critical content on social media about the municipality’s performance. He was temporarily released on bail pending trial. Earlier this year in March, Rashidi was reportedly assaulted by Ardabil municipality’s security personnel after he criticized the Municipality football team’s management.
  • Iraj Pashapour, an Azerbaijani-Turk journalist and media activist, was sentenced to nine months in prison and banned him from using social media for one year for charges of “propaganda against the Islamic Republic” by Branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court on August 10, 2025.
  • Azhdar Piri, a Kurdish researcher and editor-in-chief of the Research of Nations magazine, was arrested on May 4, 2025, after reporting to the Sentence Enforcement Branch of Karaj Prosecutor’s Office and transferred to the Central Prison of Karaj to serve a one-year prison sentence. He was sentenced in January 2025 by Branch 3 of the Revolutionary Court in Karaj to one year in prison and a two-year ban on online activities for “propaganda against the state.”
  • Mohammad Parsi, editor-in-chief of Kandoo magazine, was summoned in April 2025 by Branch 9 of the Culture and Media Prosecutor’s Office over a new case linked to his online posts. Security forces searched his home and seized devices. Parsi has previously faced multiple charges, including “propaganda against the regime” and “spreading falsehoods,” as well as fines and cases over his reporting on Nika Shakarami’s death and the 2024 presidential election >>>