A newspaper with a cover picture of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by iranian morality police is seen in Tehran, Iran, Sept. 18, 2022. (Credit: Majid Asgaripour/WANA via REUTERS//File Photo)
Iranian authorities announced Tuesday that they released eight journalists detained amid protests sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini last month.
Amini died in custody on Sept. 16 after her arrest in Tehran for an alleged breach of Iran's strict dress rules for women.
Dozens of people, mainly demonstrators but also members of the security forces, have been killed during the demonstrations, described as "riots" by authorities, and hundreds more have been arrested.
Reformist daily Sazandegi said Sunday that "more than 20 journalists" were in detention, and several others summoned for interrogation.
"So far, eight people have been released," said Iman Shamsai, director general of local media at the culture ministry, Iran's ISNA news agency reported.
On Sunday, more than 300 Iranian journalists and photojournalists signed a statement criticizing authorities for "arresting colleagues and stripping them of their civil rights after their detentions," according to local media.
In a statement published in Etemad newspaper, the Tehran journalists' association dismissed the "security approach" as "illegal" and "in conflict with press freedom."
Shamsai said, however, that "no one has been arrested in Tehran for media activity," ISNA added.
"We must not attack the entire journalistic profession and accuse the media community because of an accusation or even a crime," Shamsai said, adding that he hoped to "resolve the issues as soon as possible."