Iran's Supreme Leader pardons journalists who covered Mahsa Amini's death

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has pardoned two female journalists, Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, who covered the death of Mahsa Amini. The latter died in 2022 after being detained by the morality police for wearing an “inappropriate” hijab.

AP reports.

Journalist Niloufar Hamedi, who reported on Mahsa Amini's death, and Elahe Mohammadi, who wrote about Amini's funeral, were among those pardoned by the ayatollah. Ali Khamenei had previously granted pardons on the February anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In 2023, the journalists were sentenced to seven and six years in prison on several charges, including collaborating with the US government and propagandizing against the system. They were temporarily released in January 2024 and await further court decisions.

Mahsa Amini died in custody after being detained by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating strict hijab regulations. The official version of her death — disease, while a UN human rights expert said the woman died «due to beatings» by police.

Mass protests erupted in Iran after Mahsa Amina's funeral. They quickly escalated into anti-government uprisings. Security forces responded with brutal arrests and excessive force.

Niloufar Hamedi photographed Amina's father and grandmother comforting each other in an embrace when they learned that their Mahsa had died, and posted the photo with the caption: «The black mourning dress has become our national flag». Elahe Mohammadi wrote about Amina's funeral in her hometown of Sakkez. She described how hundreds of people present shouted: «Woman, life, freedom».