Mass arrests of journalist: Akbar Montajabi, Ehsan Mehrabi, Jalali Farahani, Ali Kalaee, and Somayeh Momeni in Prison

Akbar Montajabi a prominent journalist with reformist newspapers and magazines who works for the Irandokht publication was arrested by the security agents at two o’clock on Sunday morning. Montajabi previously worked for such publications as Yas-e-No, Shargh, and Etemaad Meli and also for weekly publication Shahrvand-e Emrooz as a reporter in the political section. On the same night, Ehsan Mehrabi, parliament reporter of the Farikhtegan newspaper was arrested at his home. Mehrabi’s credentials also include working for Hambastagi newspaper. In addition to these two, Zainab Kazemkhah, the literary reporter of ISNA was also arrested on Sunday morning in her home.

Ahmad Jalali Farahani, the editor of social services of Mehr News Agency, was also arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning, only one day after being terminated from his position at Mehr News Agency. He worked a Iran Newspaper, which is affiliated with the Islamic Republic and Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and is considered a pro-government publication. Somayeh Momeni, reporter for Nasim’e Bidari, who was previously a reporter for Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), was also arrested at 3:00 a.m. on Sunday morning at her house.

Following the arrest of Committee of Human Rights Reporters members, Ali Kalaee, another member of this young human rights group was also arrested. Kalaee who at the moment is serving his military service must await his court case in military courts. Kalaee has been arrested twice before. The first time it was in the December 2008, and the second time in May 2009, after which he spent one month in Evin prison.