Photojournalist Majid Saeedi arrested in Tehran, whereabouts unknown

Hengaw – Thursday, September 10, 2026

Majid Saeedi, an internationally recognized and award-winning photojournalist, has been arrested at his home in Tehran and taken to an undisclosed location.

According to information obtained by the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, Saeedi was arrested on September 9, 2026. A prominent figure in visual journalism, he has previously worked with the Shargh newspaper and received the international Lucas Dolega Award for his photography series “Life in War,” documenting life in Afghanistan.

His brother, Mehdi Saeedi, confirmed the arrest, saying security forces raided the photojournalist’s home in Tehran and took him into custody.

No information is available regarding the security agency responsible for his arrest, the reasons for his detention, any charges against him or his place of detention. Since his arrest, Saeedi has been denied access to a lawyer and contact with his family.

Saeedi was previously arrested on August 25, 2021, while documenting the situation of Afghan refugees in border areas of Khoy County. Security authorities accused him at the time of “photographing a border post.” He was subsequently released from Khoy Prison on September 12, 2021.