Getty Images freelancer Majid Saeedi was among six journalists arrested in Iran in mid-July for allegedly “propagating against the regime,” in the words of local newspapers. Getty CEO Jonathan Klein said the company was working toward Saeedi’s safe and quick release. Last week, Iranian authorities released information that Saeedi has confessed to enemy behavior; the U.S. Committee for the Protection of Journalists disputed this claim by suggesting such confessions are routinely coerced.
In an August 1 statement, Getty Images rejected the charges against Saeedi by Iranian prosecutors: “Majid is simply a diligent and committed photojournalist who documented the reality he observed. He is being charged for merely doing his job. Getty Images, a respected and well-regarded news organization, and our editorial photographers have a long-standing tradition of adhering to a strict set of professional principles, including responsibility, independence and integrity.”