Yalda Moaiery Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison
Yalda Moaiery, an Iranian photojournalist, was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison by Branch 29 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court on August 9, 2026. The court also ordered the confiscation of her electronic devices, including her cameras and mobile phone, and banned her from all cultural and media activities, as well as from holding public office and posting on social media. Photojournalists and journalists, particularly those covering sensitive topics like protests and conflicts in Iran, are affected by this sentencing, as it reflects the country’s strict stance on media freedom.
The sentence was handed down under a law enacted after a conflict between Israel and Iran in 2025, which Iranian authorities claim is intended to combat espionage and cooperation with hostile states. Yalda Moaiery’s work has repeatedly brought her into conflict with the authorities, and she has been a vocal critic of the Iranian government’s human rights record. Her photography has been featured in international magazines and newspapers, including Time, Newsweek, and Le Monde.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has strongly condemned the sentence, calling it baseless and disproportionate. Moaiery stated that she was unable to attend the hearing, as she had not received any notification. This sentencing is not the first time Moaiery has faced legal issues; in 2022, she was arrested during the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran and spent 92 days in prison.
The case against Yalda Moaiery began in July when the Ministry of Intelligence filed a legal case against her, relating to her media activities, including content she had published online. The authorities deemed this content to be “in the interests of the Zionist regime and the United States.” This move is seen as part of a broader crackdown on press freedom in Iran, where journalists and photojournalists face significant risks when reporting on sensitive topics.
In 2019, Moaiery gained international attention after Donald Trump used one of her photos on social media to support an attack on Iran, which she publicly spoke out against. Her work has focused on documenting wars, conflicts, and natural disasters, as well as life in Iran, including mass protests and the legacy of Iran’s Supreme Leader Khomeini.
The sentencing of Yalda Moaiery to 15 years in prison is a significant escalation of the Iranian government’s efforts to suppress press freedom and silence critical voices. The IFJ’s condemnation of the sentence reflects the international community’s concern over the treatment of journalists in Iran.
The arrest and sentencing of Yalda Moaiery are reminiscent of the crackdown on journalists during the Mahsa Amini protests in 2022, where several journalists, including Moaiery, were arrested and detained. This ongoing suppression of press freedom in Iran has significant implications for journalists and photojournalists working in the country.
