On the second anniversary of Mahsa Jina Amini and the Iranian uprising, Yalda Moaiery reflects on the role of photojournalists and reporters in documenting the protests, her arrest while capturing the demonstrations, and the intensified crackdown on independent journalists by Iranian authorities in the aftermath.
Two Years After Iran’s Uprising: Yalda Moaiery on the Struggles of Photojournalists Who Captured the Protests
Content Warning: This interview includes discussions of physical abuse, including sexual assault, that may be distressing to some readers. Please proceed with care.
Six years of suspended sentence, two months of unpaid cleaning service in a women’s park, writing a 100-page report on the book of an Islamic Republic figure, three months of arrest with several days in solitary confinement, a harsh and violent arrest with sexual assault, a two-year ban on using mobile phones and social media, a two-year ban on residing in Tehran or neighboring provinces, and a two-year ban on leaving the country: all of this for taking photos during the first day of 2022 protests in Iran for Yalda Moaiery.
“I take pride in my honesty in my work.” These words define Yalda Moaiery’s decades-long commitment to photojournalism and documentary photography. From picking up a camera at the age of 18 during the Iraq War to documenting “human suffering” and “resilience” in Iran today, Yalda’s lens has always been focused on telling the stories that matter.
The award-winning photojournalist—recipient of the International Women’s Media Foundation Courage in Journalism Award 2023 and part of the 2024 World Press Photo Contest jury—has gained recognition for her work time and again. Her photos have appeared in some of the world’s well-known publications, such as The New York Times, TIME, and Le Figaro, to name a few, and she has had many exhibitions. But her dedication to truth has often come at a heavy cost.
In December 2017, Yalda captured an iconic photograph of a female student protester at Tehran University. The photo earned her the Best News Award from the Iranian Photojournalists Association and gained international attention. But it also brought scrutiny from Iranian authorities. The image was initially published without crediting her as the photographer for her safety, but when former U.S. President Donald Trump shared it without permission, Yalda found herself under investigation. The result? A two-year suspended sentence.
The 2022 protests in Iran following Mahsa Jina Amini’s murder marked another turning point in Yalda’s life. On September 19, while photographing the protests, she was arrested in Tehran. The judiciary later claimed it was due to “security charges and supporting riots.” Yalda remembers: “I have photographed Iranian protests for twenty years, and each time I was shocked by the level of violence and intimidation by the police and government agents. On the day I was arrested during the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, I witnessed injuries among protesters that were new to me. The officers arrested me in a brutal manner, and while being transferred to the police van, I was sexually assaulted.”
On December 20, 2022, after posting bail of one billion tomans, Yalda was temporarily released. Over the years, Yalda has faced many obstacles, not just as a photojournalist in a country ranked low on the global press freedom index but as a woman. “The most significant challenge I faced as a female photojournalist in Iran was my gender. I often wished I were a man.” Yalda says she was “required to wear a full Islamic hijab” while working, along with “loose clothing,” and had to “ensure she was not noticed.” However, the situation has even worsened since the Mahsa movement, as Yalda explains: “The issue became even more pronounced due to the gendered nature of the protests and the regime’s sensitivity towards women.” She believes that “the government is inclined to ban jobs like hers for women,” though Iranian women continue to fight back.
After 23 years of dealing with these challenges in Iran, Yalda recently left her home country. Yet she hopes that the world will not forget the struggles of the Iranian people, especially women, who continue to fight for basic freedoms. “I hope that our work can open a small window in the darkness of totalitarian regimes.” True to her name, Yalda—a celebration of the longest night of the year—she embodies the belief that even in the darkest moments, there is hope for a brighter dawn.
“I chose to document and reveal people’s suffering through my camera, hoping that perhaps in this way, I could help them.” – Yalda Moaiery.
“For this job, one must wear iron shoes. They should not fear the dangers and always remember that their primary duty is to document and narrate events that have transformed people’s lives. They must remain steadfast and never agree to take a step in favor of any group or government.”- Yalda Moaiery.
Can you share with us how you became interested in photojournalism and what inspired you to pursue this career?
I started news photography at the age of eighteen during the Iraq War. At first, I was just curious to understand what was happening, but after turning twenty and photographing the war in Afghanistan, I became aware of photography’s ability to tell human stories and their struggles. I decided to become a news photographer. I chose to document and reveal people’s suffering through my camera, hoping that perhaps in this way, I could help them.
You have worked in many countries while being based in Iran. What were some of the early challenges you faced as a photojournalist in Iran, and how did they shape your approach to your work? Did they become less or more significant over time?
Being a female photojournalist in Iran has always been difficult. When I started my career as a photojournalist more than twenty years ago, the number of female photographers could be counted on one hand. The most significant challenge I faced as a female photojournalist in Iran was my gender. I often wished I were a man! I was required to wear a full Islamic hijab, have loose clothing, and always make sure I was not noticed. Despite following all these rules, I was frequently reprimanded or prevented from doing my work simply because I was a woman.
You have covered several events and protests in Iran, including the recent uprising following Mahsa Jina Amini’s murder and previous uprisings. You were also arrested and detained. What was it like to be on the ground during these events, and how have those experiences shaped your perspective?
Photojournalism during street protests and conflicts in Iran, especially when they are not in favor of the regime, has always involved many dangers. These dangers range from being prevented from working and threatened to being injured, imprisoned, or even killed. I have photographed Iranian protests for twenty years, and each time I was shocked by the level of violence and intimidation by the police and government agents. On the day I was arrested during the protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, I witnessed injuries among protesters that were new to me. The officers arrested me in a brutal manner, and while being transferred to the police van, I was sexually assaulted.
Do you believe you were treated more harshly because you are a photojournalist, or was this the same treatment for everyone who was arrested?
This was the treatment they gave everyone upon arrest. I, like others, was arrested in the street without them knowing anything about my identity.
What does the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death signify to you, and how do you think it has impacted Iranian society?
The anniversary of Mahsa’s death is a reminder for me and all the people of Iran of a history that will never be forgotten. The courage and bravery of the Iranian people took on a new meaning from that day forward and were witnessed by the world. The people, especially the women, proved that they would not remain silent in the face of oppression.
“Female photographers in Iran are always at risk of unemployment due to living in a traditional and religious society. The gender-biased perspective of society, combined with the autocratic regime, exacerbates these problems.”- Yalda Moaiery.
Iran ranks low on the global press freedom index; photojournalists and journalists frequently face censorship, harassment, and imprisonment. Despite these challenges, you and many others continue to work within and around these constraints to tell the stories that need to be told. What drives you to continue despite all these?
Independent journalists and photojournalists in Iran, who do not work with security institutions remain committed to their duty of showing the truth. The Islamic Republic has tried over the years to prevent journalists from fulfilling their professional responsibilities through imprisonment and threats, but despite all these limitations, they strive to be the voice of their crisis-stricken society.
How do you see the role of photojournalists in social and political movements, especially in Iran? What impact do you hope your work will have on perceptions of the situation in Iran?
Photojournalism, due to its documentary nature, has always drawn public attention. Many photographs have sparked movements or been used as symbols by the people. I hope that our work can open a small window into the darkness of totalitarian regimes. Although history has shown that totalitarian governments tend to ignore the role and significance of the media.
Can you tell us more about the particular challenges that female photojournalists are facing in Iran?
Female photographers in Iran are always at risk of unemployment due to living in a traditional and religious society. The gender-biased perspective of society, combined with the autocratic regime, exacerbates these problems. After the Mahsa movement, the issue became even more pronounced due to the gendered nature of the protests and the regime’s sensitivity towards women. The government is inclined to ban such jobs for women, but each time, Iranian women have managed to overcome these obstacles through their efforts and perseverance.
“The most significant challenge I faced as a female photojournalist in Iran was my gender. I often wished I were a man! I was required to wear a full Islamic hijab, use loose clothing, and always make sure I was not noticed.” – Yalda Moaiery.
What are some of the most memorable moments you’ve captured during the protests, and what do they represent to you? Looking back at your career so far, what are you most proud of, and why?
One of the most beautiful moments I witnessed during the protests after the Mahsa movement was a phone conversation between a young girl and her mother. The girl told her mother, ‘Mom, I’m just like everyone else. Whatever happens to me, happens to all of us,’ which was exactly the same sentence I had said to my own mother the night before. Without thinking and without knowing her, I hugged her, and we both cried together for a few minutes.
I take pride in my honesty in my work. I am proud that, despite all the pressures, I have never agreed to become part of the Islamic Republic’s propaganda. I have endured many pressures in life, but I have never been willing to act in favor of the regime or any government.
What advice would you give to young aspiring photojournalists who wish to document social and political issues?
For this job, one must wear iron shoes. They should not fear the dangers and always remember that their primary duty is to document and narrate events that have transformed people’s lives. They must remain steadfast and never agree to take a step in favor of any group or government.
Would you like to add anything else?
Global public opinion and the world’s media are currently focused on the conflict between Israel and Palestine, as well as the war in Ukraine. The world’s media should not forget the people of Iran, especially women. It is true that there are wars and military conflicts in various parts of the world. However, my country has been engaged in a forty-five-year-long war. A war that begins every day with women stepping out of their homes. It is a protracted war that has destroyed and devastated countless generations and lives.
“Independent journalists and photojournalists in Iran, who do not work with security institutions remain committed to their duty of showing the truth.”- Yalda Moaiery.
Read more about Iran in The Game Magazine:
Face-to-Face with the Morality Police
How Iranian Female Photographers Face and Overcome Challenges: First-Hand Accounts from the Field
Iranian Uprising Anniversary: Women at the Forefront of Change
After Decades, Are Stadiums Opening Up to Women in Iran?