Iranian photojournalist shares unseen images of Tehran protests

Iranian photographer Yalda Moaiery was arrested by agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on February 3, 2026, following her documentation of a brutal crackdown on nationwide protests that occurred between December 28 and January 11. Reports from NGOs suggest a death toll of at least 18,000 people during this period. Moaiery had captured rare visual evidence of demonstrations in Tehran on January 8 and a funeral in Karaj on January 9 for a man killed by security forces. After transmitting her work via VPN and requesting to be credited despite the risks, her home was raided and her equipment confiscated. She is currently facing trial at the Moghaddas Ardabili court in Tehran, with her legal fate remains uncertain.