Two female photographers, including prominent photojournalist Yalda Moaiery and 18-year-old photographer Shaghayegh Afshar Najafi, have been sentenced to a combined 24 years in prison in Iran over activities linked to their photography and media work.
Multiple reports said the sentences were handed down by Iranian authorities amid continuing concerns over restrictions on journalists, photographers and other media workers in the country.
Afshar Najafi, an 18-year-old photographer based in Qazvin, was sentenced to nine years in prison by the Iranian judiciary for allegedly sending photographs and video footage to the news outlet Iran International.
According to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Afshar Najafi was arrested at her home by Iranian security forces on February 14. She was transferred the following day to Choubindar Prison in Qazvin. She was reportedly charged with “assembly and collusion against national security” in connection with the case.
Under the law, five years of Afshar Najafi’s nine-year sentence are enforceable, meaning she could serve that portion of the sentence if the ruling remains in force.
Moaiery, a well-known Iranian photojournalist, is the second photographer included in the combined 24-year sentence.
The reports said Moaiery was sentenced alongside Afshar Najafi, although the information provided does not give further details about the specific charges against her or the exact breakdown of her sentence.
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Moaiery has built a prominent career documenting event in Iran and other parts of the world through photography, making her case particularly significant for the journalism and photography community.
The sentencing of the two women has drawn renewed attention to the challenges faced by photographers and journalists working in politically sensitive environments in Iran.
The case has also raised concerns among human rights organizations and press freedom advocates over restrictions on freedom of expression and the ability of media workers to document and share information.
Afshar Najafi’s alleged sharing of photographs and video footage with an international news organization was cited as part of the case against her.
The use of national security-related charges against journalists and photographers has remained a major concern among rights groups, particularly where such charges involve the gathering or distribution of information.
The two cases add to wider concerns over the treatment of media workers in Iran and the risks faced by those documenting events or sharing material with news organizations.
Further details on Moaiery’s charges, the full breakdown of the combined 24-year sentence and whether the women will appeal were not provided in the reports available. The sentences remain subject to any further legal proceedings or appeals under Iranian law.
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