Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloufar Hamedi, two female journalists arrested for covering the news of Mahsa Amini’s death, have been temporarily released on bail, reported  Fars news agency on January 14.

The Tehran Province Court of Appeal has granted bail of IRR100bn ($192,012) each for the release of the two journalists, after they were imprisoned for 17 months.

On October 22, 2023, the Islamic Revolutionary Court issued a conviction for the two journalists on charges of "cooperating with the hostile government of the United States," "committing offences against the security of the country," and "engaging in propaganda activities against the Islamic Republic." The verdict sentenced Elaheh to 12 years and Niloufar to 13 years in prison.

At the time the verdict was reported in October, it was also reported that the ruling was subject to appeal within 20 days and that if the Court of Appeal upheld the ruling, Mohammadi and Hamedi would serve the maximum sentences of six years and seven years, respectively.

In addition to their sentences, both journalists have also been prohibited from joining any political party or group and engaging in activities in cyberspace, media, and the press for a period of two years.

The court issued the convictions after the two journalists had been detained for over a year. 

During their detention, 200 journalists and authors signed an open letter calling for their release, arguing that the prolonged temporary detention without a court order was illegal.

Before their arrests, Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammad worked as journalists at Shargh and Hammihan newspapers, respectively. Their reporting of Mahsa Amini’s death while in custody of the so-called morality police for allegedly violating the strict dress code for women in the Islamic Republic on September 16, 2022, led to nationwide protests, which faced a harsh government crackdown.

It was one of the longest public protests the Islamic Republic has had to deal with and the only major women-led uprising to claim the right to refuse to adhere to the Islamic hijab obligation.