Elham Afroutan and up to six other journalists working for the provincial weekly newspaper Tammadon-e Hormozgan (Hormozgan’s Civilization) were arrested on 29 January following the publication of a satirical article. They may be prisoners of conscience, detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression. The seven may be held incommunicado and are at risk of torture and ill-treatment. If convicted, they may face the cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment of flogging.
