Photo/Illutration An image of Elahe Mohammadi and Niloofar Hamedi, recipients of the Golden Pen of Freedom, is projected on a screen at the World News Media Congress in Taipei on June 28. (Koichiro Ishida)

TAIPEI--Two jailed Iranian reporters received a prestigious journalism award for courageously turning the spotlight on the death in detention of a compatriot accused of improperly wearing a hijab.

Elahe Mohammadi and Niloofar Hamedi were awarded the Golden Pen of Freedom on June 28 at the 74th World News Media Congress being held here.

The two reported from an early stage about the plight of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, who was arrested over the way she wore a hijab and suddenly died during detention in September.

The incident led to mass protests against the government.

Iranian authorities arrested the two journalists on the grounds they conspired with a foreign intelligence agency and instigated a demonstration. They continue to remain in detention.

The World Association of News Publishers said Mohammadi and Hamedi previously reported on women’s issues in the country and have become “symbols of Iran’s protest movement,” which has continued since Amini’s death.

The organizers also said the two just did their jobs as journalists and called on Iranian authorities to release them and all other jailed journalists.

The Golden Pen of Freedom is awarded to individuals and organizations that protect and promote press freedom.

In 2021, the award was given to Jimmy Lai, founder of the Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily, who was arrested and indicted over his critical stance against the Communist Party of China.

Dmitry Muratov, editor-in-chief of the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, and Philippines journalist Maria Ressa won the Golden Pen of Freedom before they were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021.

At the opening ceremony of the 74th World News Media Congress on June 28, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said Taiwan is being targeted by "well-funded, large-scale disinformation campaigns," without mentioning China, and explained about countermeasures implemented with private-sector institutions.

“Coming together to discuss the most pressing issues facing the industry and democracy is what we should be doing now,” Tsai said in a speech.

In a keynote speech, Ressa said, "You can't have the rule of law if you don't have integrity of facts."

To win the information warfare, "We have to go beyond journalism. It has to be a whole of society approach," she said. 

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