Photojournalist Ehsan Maleki was forced to flee Iran after covering the 2009 elections and subsequent protests for the foreign media. 

The Trust is currently supporting 11 freelancers in the MENA region who have been forced into exile because of their work.

Left: Some of Ehsan's images shot during the 2009 Iranian elections                                       

In 2009, in the aftermath of its disputed elections, Iran became the leading jailer of journalists in the world (source: CPJ).

Journalists and bloggers, charged with “mutiny” and “disruption of public order,” faced lengthy prison sentences, unfair trials, and torture. Numerous publications were shut down and the government set up a Web Crime Unit, to enforce Internet censorship.  Media reports and human rights observers say over 50 journalists fled into exile to avoid persecution. 

Freelance photographer Ehsan Maleki is one of them. 

Ehsan had been working successfully as a freelance photographer of news and documentary stories for Iranian newspapers and agencies and was one of a small group of photographers who covered news for foreign media outlets. His work was distributed internationally, through the Sipa Press Agency, and he had begun to shoot video, working for French TV channel TF1, during the 2009 elections.

“Before the 2009 election, I spent most of my time following the two candidates who were reformists.  People were really happy and hopeful that there would be change in the country.  Everyone in Iran had energy, and I had it too. There was a big will from the people to make this change, but it didn’t happen - the Government remained in power and people began to protest in the street.

“After the election, the ministry in charge of foreign media correspondents officially banned us from reporting the protests, and my editor advised me to stay at home as it was too dangerous for photographers.  There were 3 photographers who were attacked and stabbed.  They said stay at home, but I couldn’t. I felt this was a very important moment in my country’s history."

On 20 June, at the height of the demonstrations, Ehsan was arrested and detained for 24 hours by the authorities. Though freed he never went home.  His neighbour told him that government agents had searched his home, confiscating his computer and camera equipment.  Government news reports began linking him with SIPA Press and two of his SIPA colleagues were arrested. 

 “I then heard that one of them was tortured and appeared on television confessing he was a spy. I said to myself, ‘I had better not stay’.”

On 1st July Ehsan fled to Northern Iraq and a month later he travelled to Iran. He had no passport, equipment or proper possessions and crossed the border hidden in a flock of sheep. 

With the help of Reporters Without Borders, Ehsan eventually found refuge in France and considers himself lucky.  But it's been a difficult and frustrating time, living away from friends and family, starting his career from scratch, with only basic equipment and very little money.  And until he is granted French citizenship, he can't officially set up business as a freelancer: "I was a good photographer and was represented by an agency.  Here I am just a number until I get permission to stay."

A grant from the Trust helped Ehsan meet rent and essential living costs when he had no income: "I was quite stuck and it was a really big help.  No words can sum up how it changed the situation in which I was living."

Since then Ehsan has been generating work. He travelled to Budapest to shoot a story about the cycling community and is working on his own long-term project about Iranian journalists exiled in France.  In July 2011 he told us that he'd been commissioned to cover a story in Tajikistan which is great news.

Links

Between Bicycle Polo and Bicycle Bars - Ehsan Maleki