RSF joins 34 organisations in calling for the urgent protection of journalists detained in Iran

The 17 journalists detained in Iran according to RSF information:Ali Reza Jabari Darestani (blogger), Amir Moradi (Writers' Association of Iran), Arash Shoa-e Shargh (Gilan noo), Milad Bidarigh (Masal news), Mohsen Ahmadizadeh (independent journalist), Mostafa Nemati (independent journalist), Omid Faraghat (independent journalist), Parisa Salehi (independent journalist), Pouria Mahdavi Moghadam (Iranian Labour News Agency - ILNA), Reza Valizadeh (Radio Farda), Rozbeh Meshkin Khat (Entekhab khabar), Saba Azarpeik (independent journalist), Sadeq Qeisari (independent journalist), Shave Shahvagh (independent journalist), and three journalists who wish to remain anonymous.

The letter:

As the violent crackdown on protests and dissidence brutally intensify in Iran and a near-total communications shutdown continues, the Free Narges Coalition and more than 30 signatory organisations are calling for urgent, concrete measures to bypass internet censorship. They also warn against the serious threats facing current detainees and recently arrested individuals - especially those imprisoned for their commitment to human rights, their journalism, their exercise of their freedom of expression, their activism, and their peaceful participation in gatherings.

Iran is experiencing one of the most severe periods of repression it has known in recent history.

The protests, which began on 28 December at Tehran's Grand Bazaar in response to the collapse of the national currency, quickly grew in scale, until the authorities fully cut off internet access and launched an even more brutal crackdown from 8 January onwards. Horrific images show demonstrators being killed, medical reports describe overwhelmed hospitals and the lethal use of military weapons and live ammunition, and the lack of access given to journalists and independent media have left families searching for their missing loved ones in despair and raised serious concerns for the safety of the thousands who have been injured or detained. Human rights organisations and international media outlets have been able to verify the deaths of more than 2,500 demonstrators, including minors, as well as thousands of injured victims - some severely - and nearly 20,000 confirmed arrests. Given most of the killings have taken place since 8 January, during a total online blackout preventing further verification of the facts, current estimates indicate that the death toll is far higher, likely exceeding 6,000.

At the same time, in official statements, Tehran's prosecutor general described the protesters as "vandals" and threatened to prosecute them for moharebeh("war against God"), a charge punishable by death under the Islamic Penal Code. Iranian state media outlets have also reported mass arrests of individuals they describe as "rioters."

According to NetBlocks, Iran has experienced more than 140 hours of near-total Internet blackout since 8 January. These widespread disruptions severely restrict access to independent information and the sharing of essential, life-saving news, while creating an environment ripe for serious human rights violations to be carried out with impunity. Prior to the blackout, human rights defenders and well-known dissidents both inside and outside the country had already reported receiving threats, as authorities attempted to suppress any expression of support for the protests.

Detainees include human rights defenders, journalists, writers and artists, and whether recently arrested or behind bars for a long time, they are facing a grave and often overlooked risk. Iran's past shows that such periods of large-scale unrest are frequently accompanied by an escalation of abuse in detention centres, where detainees are particularly vulnerable to extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, torture and other forms of ill-treatment. It should be noted that those held in solitary confinement, deprived of all contact with the outside world, are at even greater risk.

Among the recently detained are prominent figures from Iranian civil society, notably Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, Sepideh Gholian, Alieh Motalebzadeh, Javad Alikordi, Hasti Amiri, Pouran Nazemi, as well as other human rights defenders and journalists. They were violently arrested following the memorial ceremony for lawyer Khosrow Alikordi on 12 December in Mashhad, and have been held in solitary confinement for more than a month, with their place of detention and condition remaining unknown. Narges Mohammadi has been denied access to a lawyer and all contact with her family, apart from a brief phone call on 14 December during which she reported severe ill-treatment, including blows to the head and neck with batons and threats of further violence.On 6 January, before the total Internet blackout, journalist and human rights defender Alieh Motalebzadeh, who is suffering from cancer, was able to call her family. Her daughter stated in a video message that she did not appear to be in good health and that detainees were under intense pressure. She was released on bail on 12 January after her health deteriorated. Pouran Nazemi's health is also a serious source of concern as she remains in detention. Narges Mohammadi was hospitalised for three days following her violent arrest and arbitrary detention which began on 12 December. Due to the communications blackout, their families and lawyers have been unable to make contact with them, or verify whether their 30-day arbitrary detention orders have been extended.

We, the signatory organisations, express our deep concern at the escalating killing of protesters, as well as the serious risk of arbitrary prosecutions punishable by death targeting those detained. We stress that the lives and safety of the most vulnerable detainees in Iran must not under any circumstances be forgotten. Human rights defenders, journalists, writers, artists and all those prosecuted for exercising their freedoms of association and expression are at the forefront of the peaceful struggle for fundamental human rights. They must be protected and released immediately, unconditionally. We call on the international community to act without delay to end the escalation of human rights violations and breaches of the most basic principles of humanity.

As reports of mass arrests, killings and widespread violence continue to mount, we reaffirm our full solidarity with the Iranian people in their legitimate struggle for fundamental freedoms and democratic rights. We urge the international community to take urgent and concrete measures to prevent further loss of life and ensure that Iran respects its international human rights obligations, including by:

• The immediate and unconditional release of all individuals detained in Iran for peaceful protest or the exercise of their freedom of expression, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, as well as human rights and women's rights defenders, civil society activists, journalists, lawyers, writers, artists, representatives of religious and ethnic minorities, environmental and labour rights defenders, students, and all others detained or threatened for exercising their fundamental rights.
• The immediate and full restoration of free and unrestricted access to internet and telecommunications services, and an end to nationwide shutdowns that censor news, facilitate repression, block the transmission of essential and life-saving communications - particularly for medical staff - and obstruct the documentation of human rights violations.
• The conducting of independent, impartial and transparent investigations into killings, torture, the lethal use of force by security forces, enforced disappearances and other serious human rights violations committed in connection with the ongoing protests, in order to ensure accountability in accordance with international law.

Every hour of inaction increases the irreversible risk of loss of life and flagrant human rights violations. The international community must act urgently to protect detainees, guarantee their safety and rights, and prevent further violations of international law.

Signatories:

The Narges Foundation

Front Line Defenders

PEN America

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Alliance des femmes pour la démocratie

ARC - Artists at Risk Connection

ARTICLE 19

Association for Human Rights of Azerbaijanis in Iran (ArcDH)

Baloch Activists Campaign

Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI)

Coalition For Women In Journalism

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

ECPM (Together Against the Death Penalty)

End Gender Apartheid International Campaign

European Uyghur Institute

Fondation des Femmes

Haalvsh Human Rights Organisation (Haalvsh)

HÁWAR.help

Iran House (NGO)

Iran Justice

Kurdistan Human Rights Association-Geneva (KMMK-G)

Kurdpa Human Rights Organization

League for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran (LDDHI)

Middle East Matters

Neda d'Iran

Nobel Women's Initiative (NWI)

PEN Austria

PEN Canada

PEN Denmark

PEN International

PEN Melbourne

PEN Norway

PEN Sweden

Stop Honor Killings

Strategic Litigation Project, Atlantic Council

United for Iran

This statement is coordinated by the steering committee of the Free Narges Coalition, led by the Narges Foundation, PEN America, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Front Line Defenders. For more information or to get involved, visit: www.narges.foundation/freenarges. To contact the steering committee members, see: Narges Foundation, [email protected]; Karin Deutsch Karlekar, PEN America, [email protected]; Jonathan Dagher, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), [email protected]; and Front Line Defenders, [email protected].