Hana Khalaj, a photographer for the IRNA news agency in the Qazvin center, was dismissed from the media outlet on March 11, 2024, after posting a critical story about government officials.
According to sources DeFFI, Hana Khalaj, a news photographer who had been suspended from her job at IRNA after criticizing government officials’ indifference to a protest by residents of the “Rashtghoon” village in Qazvin province, received a dismissal letter on Monday.
On February 10, 2024, following the presence of Mehrdad Bazrpash, Minister of Roads and Urban Development in the government of Ebrahim Raisi, and several members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly in the “Rashtghoon” village for the groundbreaking ceremony of the “National Housing Movement,” villagers held a protest against the illegal appropriation of their pastures and lands by the government. Nevertheless, government officials left the village without responding to the people’s protests after the ceremony.
Hana Khalaj, who had been sent by IRNA to photograph this event, posted a photo of the villagers’ protest the next day, writing in her Instagram story: “Yesterday, the National Housing Movement project started in Rashtghoon village, and while the minister, the governor, and two members of parliament were present, the people shouted in unison that they were not satisfied, even if it was inaugurated; however, the voice of the people was not heard even a meter away from the officials.”
Shortly after the publication of this story, this news photographer was summoned, and IRNA suspended her from work. After weeks of suspension, on March 11, 2024, the photo service of IRNA dismissed Hana Khalaj from the media outlet.
The Housing Production Boost Law (National Housing Movement) is a law ratified by the Islamic Consultative Assembly at the proposal of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development in Ebrahim Raisi’s government. This plan, aimed at increasing housing construction in Iran, is one of Ebrahim Raisi’s electoral promises to construct one million housing units per year; a promise that, three years after the formation of his government, has yet to be realized.