Harvard University Award Given to Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi
The Louis Lyons Award for Conscience and Integrity in Journalism this year was awarded to Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, two imprisoned journalists.
The Nieman Foundation deemed Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi worthy of this award for their steadfast commitment to bravely covering issues in Iran and reflecting the situation of women, especially the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022.
Niloofar Hamedi, a reporter for Shargh newspaper, and Elaheh Mohammadi, a reporter for Ham-Mihan newspaper, were among the first journalists to report on the death of Mahsa Amini. Niloofar Hamedi was arrested after reporting on Mahsa Amini’s condition at Kasra Hospital, and Elaheh Mohammadi was detained after reporting on Mahsa Amini’s funeral ceremony.
These two journalists, known for their courageous reports on human rights, women’s issues, and politics, remain in detention more than six months later.