The 25-year prison sentence given to woman journalists Nilüfer Hamedi and Elaha Mohammadi by a local court in Iran has been overturned. The Court of Appeals overturned the local court's decision and acquitted the female journalists of "collaborating with foreign governments" charges. 

 

Instead, the Court of Appeals sentenced them to 1 year in prison for "propaganda against the regime" and 6 years in prison separately, for a total of 5 years with the other charges.

 

Hamedi's lawyers Parto Burhanpour and Hojjat Kermani and Mohammadi's lawyer Şahabeddin Mirlohi announced in a statement that the journalists, who were initially sentenced to 25 years in prison, were sentenced to 6 years in prison each.

 

Elaha Mohammadi's lawyer Şahabeddin Mirlohi stated that the court had initiated the necessary procedures for the execution of the sentence on July 16, and said: "The Court of Appeals approved this sentence. However, considering that the charges meet the conditions of Amnesty Circular 1401 (2022), we hope that Mohammadi will be granted amnesty. We hope that this case will be closed with a stay of execution."

 

Nilüfer Hamedi's lawyers stated that their client's case is related to the events that took place after the death of Jina Mahsa Amini. The lawyers emphasized that since Hamedi was acquitted of the charge of "collaborating with a foreign government", her trial must be postponed within the scope of Amnesty Circular 1401. The lawyers said: "This case must be concluded by taking advantage of the amnesty circular, like many other defendants."