At the end of 2015, Iran was the world’s third leading jailer of journalists after China and Egypt, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The organization listed 19 journalists behind bars in the Islamic Republic. In Iran, among other countries, “a climate of fear for the media persists, with many of those released continuing to face legal charges or harsh restrictions, including forced exile,” according to an annual report. “Anti-state charges remain the favored tool for jailing journalists in Iran, where the number of journalists in jail fell in 2015 to 19 from 30 a year earlier, but where the revolving-door policy of allowing some prisoners out on furlough while others are arrested continues.” The following is a list of the 19 journalists.
 
Adnan Hassanpour, Aso
  MEDIUM: Print
  CHARGE: Anti-state
  IMPRISONED: January 25, 2007
 
  Mohammad Seddigh Kaboudvand, Payam-e-Mardom
  MEDIUM: Print
  CHARGE: Anti-state
  IMPRISONED: July 1, 2007
 
  Arash Honarvar Shojaei, Freelance
  MEDIUM: Internet
  CHARGE: Anti-state, Insult
  IMPRISONED: October 28, 2010
 
  Mostafa Abdi, Majzooban-e-Noor
  MEDIUM: Internet
  CHARGE: Anti-state
  IMPRISONED: September 5, 2011
 
  Saeed Madani, Freelance
  MEDIUM: Print
  CHARGE: Anti-state
  IMPRISONED: January 7, 2012
 
  Khosrow Kordpour, Mukrian News Agency
  MEDIUM: Internet
  CHARGE: Anti-state
  IMPRISONED: March 7, 2013
 
  Massoud Kordpour, Freelance
  MEDIUM: Internet, Radio
  CHARGE: Anti-state
  IMPRISONED: March 8, 2013
   
  Saeed Razavi Faghih, Sobh-e Emrooz, Bahar, Rooz Online
  MEDIUM: Print
  CHARGE: Anti-state
  IMPRISONED: March 6, 2014
 
  Serajeddin Mirdamadi, Toos, Hayat-e No, Radio Zamaneh
  MEDIUM: Print, Radio
  CHARGE: Anti-state
  IMPRISONED: May 10, 2014
   
  Jason Rezaian, The Washington Post
  MEDIUM: Print, Internet
  CHARGE: Anti-State
  IMPRISONED: July 22, 2014
 
  Saeed Pourheydar, Freelance
  MEDIUM: Print
  CHARGE: Anti-State
  IMPRISONED: January 4, 2015
  Atena Farghadani, Freelance
  MEDIUM: Internet
  CHARGE: Anti-state
  IMPRISONED: January 10, 2015
 
  Kayvan Mehregan, Sharq
  MEDIUM: Print
  CHARGE: Anti-state
  IMPRISONED: August 26, 2015
 
  Hassan Sheikh Aghaei, Ruwange
  MEDIUM: Internet
  CHARGE: No Charge
  IMPRISONED: October 7, 2015
 
  Ehsan Mazandarani, Farhikhtegan
  MEDIUM: Print
  CHARGE: No charge
  IMPRISONED: November 2, 2015
 
  Issa Saharkhiz, Freelance
  MEDIUM: Internet
  CHARGE: Anti-State
  IMPRISONED: November 2, 2015
 
  Afarin Chitsaz, Iran
  MEDIUM: Print
  CHARGE: No charge
  IMPRISONED: November 2, 2015
 
  Saman Safarzaee, Andisheh Pouya
  MEDIUM: Print
  CHARGE: No charge
  IMPRISONED: November 2, 2015
 
  Hadi Heydari, Shahrvand
  MEDIUM: Print
  CHARGE: No Charge
  IMPRISONED: November 16, 2015