Iranian journalist Mehdi Ghadimi
Iranian security forces have arrested another journalist amid unrest in the country following the death of Mahsa Amini in ‘hijab police’ custody back in September.
Security officers raided the house of Mehdi Ghadimi’s father in Karaj, west of Tehran, on Sunday and arrested the journalist who used to work for several dailies in Iran including Etemad and Shargh, both ‘reformist’ publications.
A member of his family told Etemad Online that around ten security agents raided the house to search his room and car and finally they confiscated his mobile phone and laptop.
According to the family member, the CCTV camera of their residence was also confiscated by the security forces.
He said after Mahdi's arrest, the officers transferred him to Tehran as they had been dispatched from Tehran to detain him.
He added that Mehdi has not been in contact with his family and there is no information about his whereabouts.
The Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists said in mid-December that at least 57 journalists have been arrested in Iran since September during popular protests against the Islamic Republic.
The international NGO also noted that only 30 of the 57 detained journalists have been reportedly released so far.
There are no exact figures on the number of people arrested during the protests, but some sources say nearly 20,000 people have been detained.