The Iranian regime has used the Iran National Journalist Day to sentence award-winning photojournalist Yalda Moaiery to fifteen years in prison.
Moaiery. who has more than two decades of experience as a photojournalist covering conflict, humanitarian crises, political dissent and the lives of women in Iran, was sentenced in absentia by Branch 29 of Tehran's Revolutionary Court on July 9, 2026 – a sentence she learned of on August 8th.
The ruling against her was for activities “in furtherance of the interests of the Zionist regime against national security.”
Over two decades her work has covered areas from Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Somalia, to Georgia and Indonesia. A lot of her work focuses on women, political dissent and consequences of government policy. Moaiery has worked with and supplied photographs to many international news organisations in that time.
It has been alleged that the authorities treated her contact with foreign media as evidence supporting the charges. She denies acting for a foreign government or intelligence organization, and maintains that she was working as a photojournalist documenting events of legitimate public interest.
She says she supplied CNN with photographs depicting damage caused by airstrikes in Iran, and she was also interviewed about her reporting in March of 2026. Her work appeared in international coverage, including reporting by French publication Le Monde.
In addition to the jail time, the judgment also reportedly ordered the confiscation of her cameras and other equipment.
In addition to the imprisonment, it has been reported that the punishment extends to being permanently banned from political and media activity in Iran as well as other restrictions, including exclusion from civil service employment. She has also reportedly been stopped from certain economic activities such as possessing a checkbook and driving a motor vehicle.
It has been suggested that these punishments are largely designed to prevent her from resuming her life as a photojournalist after any sentence is completed.
This is not her first time being in conflict with the regime, as she was arrested in September 2022 while photographing protests following the death of Masa Amini in police custody – demonstrations which became internationally associated with the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. She was reportedly detained for about three months after that incident.
Her arrest comes after a broader crackdown on Iranian journalism in recent years and especially since the start of the recent US-Iran war. Journalists covering protests, women's rights and government actions have faced arrests, equipment seizures and various restrictions. Her case is especially severe but certainly not necessarily in isolation
While we often associate photography with art, technology or personal expression, this is a poignant reminder that it also has an important role in evidence and political testimony. The restrictions by government on photojournalism, including social restrictions and even seizing equipment reveals how seriously authorities regard the influence of photography.
