Photojournalist Majid Saeedi still unaccounted for 41 days after his arrest

Majid Saeedi, a well-known Iranian photojournalist, is still being held at an unknown location 41 days after his arrest by the Islamic Republic's security forces. As of Tuesday, 20 October 2026, neither the body that detained him, nor his place of detention, nor any charge against him has been announced.

Security forces went to the photographer's home on Wednesday, 9 September and arrested him. His brother, Mehdi Saeedi, announced the arrest on Instagram at the time and said the family had no information about the reason for his arrest or where he is being held. In the time since, the judicial and security authorities of the Islamic Republic have given no explanation about his case.

Concern over Majid Saeedi's physical condition

According to those close to him, Majid Saeedi has a history of heart disease, had an angiogram shortly before his arrest, and needs medication and continuous medical follow-up. The complete lack of news about where he is held has raised concern that he is being denied the treatment he needs. The Association of Iranian Press Photographers had also earlier expressed concern about his condition. His family, friends and colleagues say that after more than a month they still have no news of him.

The "Life in War" photographer's record of arrests

Majid Saeedi is one of the well-known names in Iranian photojournalism. He received the Lucas Dolega Award for his series "Life in War" on the lives of the people of Afghanistan, and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) describes him as a photojournalist who has won numerous awards, including from the World Press Photo contest.

This is not the first time the Islamic Republic has arrested him. Saeedi had previously been arrested by security forces several times, including in September 2021 in the city of Khoy while he was reporting on Afghan refugees. During the 12-day war he had also reported on the treatment he and his colleagues received from security forces.

The continuing crackdown on journalists and media workers

Arrest without charge and detention at an unknown location are familiar patterns in the Islamic Republic's treatment of journalists and photographers. In recent weeks the pressure on media workers and academics has continued as well, including the sentencing of Gholamhossein Karbaschi for covering the crackdown on the January uprising and the dismissal of two University of Tehran lecturers over their political positions.

Majid Saeedi has been held for 41 days without charge at an unknown location, while he needs cardiac treatment.