News Center- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has released a statement calling on the Iranian authorities to immediately release 16 journalists, who have been detained amid national protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. In the statement, the IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger has renewed the IFJ's call for the immediate release of all journalists detained and reminded the authorities of their obligation to uphold the fundamental right of freedom of expression for all Iranian citizens, including journalists.

The internet showdowns and social media blockages have intensified in Iran. In the statement, the federation has also urged the Iranian authorities to restore the free flow of information.

According to the Association of Iranian Journalists, an IFJ affiliate, 16 journalists have been arrested since the beginning of the protests. Those detained are:

Ahamd Halabi Saz, Iman Beh Pasand, Vida Rabani, Fatemeh Rajabi, Elahe Mohammadi, Mojtaba Rahimi, Alireza Khoshbakht, Rouholah Nakhaei, Nilofar Hamedi, Yalda Moayeri, Masoud Kordpur, Khosro Kordpur, Marzieh Talaee, Ali Khatibzadeh, Batool Balali and Samira Alinejad.