The report on the suppression of media and journalists in July 2024 is based on 11 new cases and a total of 19 updated cases compiled by researchers from the Defending Free Flow Of Information (DeFFI).
According to these documented cases, from July 1 to 31 (Tir 11, 1403 – Mordad 10, 1403), 18 media outlets, journalists, and media activists experienced judicial and security confrontations from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The suppression of the press in Iran continued relentlessly and purposefully in July, similar to previous months. However, the number of judicial and security confrontations with journalists, media activists, and media outlets showed a downward trend compared to previous months. The decrease in suppression statistics in a single month compared to the annual average could result from two significant factors: first, the absence of provocative events that could activate the judicial and security mechanisms of the Islamic Republic for more stringent suppression of independent information dissemination. Second, self-censorship and caution by media and journalists following a period of extensive press suppression.
Based on documented cases by DeFFI, the number of judicial and security confrontations with journalists, media activists, and media outlets in January was 44 cases, in February 48 cases, in March 18 cases, in April 44 cases, in May 37 cases, in June 44 cases, and in July 19 cases.
Statistical analysis and review of the mechanisms of press suppression in Iran indicate that judicial and security confrontations with journalists and media are significantly related to important social events.
After significant and provocative social events, the security, judicial, and propaganda institutions of the Islamic Republic strive to amplify the official narrative of the regime and prevent independent narratives from becoming the dominant discourse among citizens. Security and judicial confrontations with media, journalists, and disseminators of unofficial narratives aim to prevent the widespread dissemination of these narratives, discredit independent narratives, and sometimes create multiple parallel narratives. This process is the most recurring pattern of suppressing free information dissemination in Iran.
Simultaneously, it seems that the Islamic Republic is gradually implementing an integrated system of media and quasi-media to execute its propaganda policies. This system includes the national broadcasting service, newspapers, news websites, media activists close to the government, and tens of thousands of Telegram channels, Instagram pages, and Twitter accounts.
July 2024 began with at least eight journalists and media activists still imprisoned in Iranian jails. Vida Rabbani, Shirin Saeedi, Nasrin Hassani, Parisa Salehi, Saba Azarpeik, Kamyar Fakour, Rouhollah Nakhaei, and Yashar Soltani remained in prison by the end of July.
According to events recorded by the Defense of Free Information Flow, in July 2024, following the publication of news in the “Jahan-e-Sanat” newspaper regarding the results of the presidential election in Iran, the Tehran prosecutor’s office filed a complaint against the editor-in-chief of this media outlet. Concurrently, a judicial case was filed against Fatemeh Gholipour, a reporter for the “Rokna” news website, for publishing news about an attack by individuals with “machetes” on a mourning congregation in Tabriz during the month of Muharram.
In the most unfortunate incident of July, the governor of Quds County, Hossein Kazemi, severely assaulted a social reporter for pursuing and publishing a report on illegal constructions in the county. In this incident, which occurred inside the municipality building of Quds County, Hossein Kazemi sustained injuries to his mouth and nose.
In July, members of the jury in political and press courts found two media outlets and their editors-in-chief guilty. Judicial courts sentenced four journalists to a total of two years in prison, 40 lashes, and fines amounting to 28 million tomans in separate cases.
In this month, Asal Dadashlou and Mojtaba Rahimi were each sentenced to fines of 6 million and 600 thousand tomans. The Tehran Court of Appeals sentenced Dina Ghalibaf to two years in prison and a 15 million toman fine, suspended for five years. The Markazi Province Court of Appeals sentenced Salahuddin Khalaj Asadi, a reporter for the “Cheshm-be-Rah” weekly, to 40 lashes. The inhumane lashing sentence was issued following a complaint by Masoud Pirayesh, Director General of the Sports and Youth Department of Markazi Province, against Salahuddin Khalaj Asadi.
According to documented cases by DeFFI, in the past month alone, the security and judicial institutions of the Islamic Republic violated the legal rights of journalists under prosecution in at least nine instances; in eight cases by holding non-public press courts without the presence of a jury and in one case by assaulting a prisoner. Similar to previous months, in July, the charge of “spreading falsehoods with the intent to disturb public opinion” under Article 746 of the Islamic Penal Code, with 15 instances, was once again the most frequent accusation attributed to journalists and media outlets.