The spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary threatened media outlets during a press conference, stating that if they published content against groups he referred to as “the Resistance Front and the leaders and commanders of this front,” legal cases would be filed against them. Asghar Jahangir also claimed that the sentencing of Niloufar Hamadi and Elaheh Mohammadi was “related to before 2022 and that they were included in the “amnesty” directive regarding the publication of reports on the death of “Mahsa (Jina) Amini.”
Mizan, the official news agency of the Iranian judiciary, reported on October 22, 2024, quoting the judiciary spokesperson who announced that this judicial body had issued “legal warnings and notices” to 16 citizens who criticized “the Resistance Front and the leaders and commanders of this front” (Hezbollah, Hamas, and other Iranian proxy groups), and had “summoned and detained” three others.
Asghar Jahangir also warned Iranian media to “be cautious with their statements” regarding “the Resistance Front and the leaders and commanders of this front,” otherwise, they would face legal prosecution.
In response to a question about the summons of Niloufar Hamadi and Elaheh Mohammadi for the execution of their prison sentences and the non-application of the “amnesty and reduction of public penalties” directive in their cases, the judiciary spokesperson stated: “Investigations show that these individuals were recognized as eligible for amnesty in part of their case related to the disturbances of 2022, but they had charges related to before 2022, which are not linked to news reporting and are security-related.”
The claims made by the judiciary spokesperson regarding the sentencing of Niloufar Hamadi and Elaheh Mohammadi contain multiple contradictions. According to the lawyers representing these two journalists, the judiciary did not apply the amnesty and reduction of public penalties directive—issued in February 2023—in the cases of Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamadi. Furthermore, despite repeated statements from the judiciary spokesperson and Mizan news agency regarding the cases of Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamadi, there was no reference to their previous legal cases at any stage of the judicial proceedings, and the charges brought against them were all related to their detention during the “Women, Life, Freedom” protests.