Kurdish journalist Nazila Maroofian, known for her interview with the father of Jîna Amini, the 22-year-old Kurdish woman whose death in the custody of Iran’s morality police sparked nationwide uprisings against the Iranian regime, has once again been arrested.
The arrest follows Maroofian’s publication of the interview, where the father, Amjad Amini, spoke candidly about the truth surrounding his daughter’s murder.
Maroofian was accused of engaging in propaganda activities against the regime and spreading false information to disturb public opinion. As a result, she has been sentenced to two years in prison and fined 15 million Iranian Rials (355 US Dollars). In a show of force, Maroofian’s house was raided, and her electronic devices were confiscated by the Iranian authorities. Following her summons to the prosecutor’s office for questioning, she was subsequently arrested in Tehran.
In a statement posted on her Twitter account on 7 July, just prior to her arrest, Maroofian highlighted the broader implications of her situation for Iranians, stating, “This incident is not about me specifically, but it is something that we Iranians endure with our skin, flesh, and bones.” She urged others not to remain silent and emphasised the importance of speaking out against injustice and oppression. Maroofian acknowledged the risks involved in writing about such incidents but stressed that silence only perpetuates support for those in power.
Describing the details of her arrest, Maroofian recounted how she was approached by an individual who presented his ID card and demanded entry into her house. She was then subjected to a thorough search, even including her underwear drawer. Maroofian’s personal content and information were closely scrutinised, highlighting the lack of privacy and security faced by dissidents in Iran.
