At least three journalists were arrested in Iran, local sources announced on Monday, amid the protest movement triggered by the death in custody of young Mahsa Amini in September, according to AFP, Agerpres reads.

„In the last 48 hours, at least three journalists – Melika Hashemi, Saideh Shafiei and Mehrnoush Zarei – have been arrested”, announced the Association of Journalists in Iran, in a statement. No details were provided about the reasons for the detention of these journalists, who work for newspapers and a press agency.

The reformist daily Etemad stated that the journalists were transferred to Evin prison in Tehran. The newspaper estimates at 79 the number of journalists arrested since the beginning of the demonstrations in the country four months ago.

At the end of October, over 300 Iranian journalists and photojournalists criticized the authorities in an open letter for „arresting their colleagues and depriving them of their rights”, especially „access to lawyers”.

According to the authorities, hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, died in the context of the demonstrations that have been taking place since the death on September 22 of the young Mahsa Amini, 22 years old, following her arrest by the morals police for an alleged violation of the dress code for women.

Agerpres