Iran has released on bail two journalists who were jailed for more than a year after they reported the death of young Mahsa Amini, sparking protests nationwide, the BBC reports.

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Nilufar Hamedi, 31, and Elaheh Mohammadi, 36, are journalists released on bail, Iranian media reported, according to the BBC and News.ro.

Mahsa Amini died in custody after being detained by Iran’s morality police.

She was detained allegedly for violating strict rules that required women to cover their hair with a hijab or veil.

The coroner attributed her death to underlying medical conditions, but a UN human rights expert said the evidence showed she died “as a result of being beaten” by police.

Hamedi, who worked for the reformist newspaper Shargh, reported Amini’s death. She took a photo of Mahse Amini’s father and grandmother hugging after learning their daughter had died and posted the photo online with the caption: “The black mourning dress has become our national flag.”

Mohammadi worked for the Ham-Mihan newspaper, also a reformist newspaper, and wrote about Amini’s funeral in his hometown of Saqqez. She described how hundreds of people present shouted “Woman, life, freedom”.

The first protests took place after Amini’s funeral, and unrest quickly spread across the country, with demands ranging from increased freedom to the overthrow of the state.

Two journalists were arrested shortly after the protests began and charged with collaborating with the US government and aiding and abetting national security.

They were sentenced to 13 and 12 years of imprisonment, respectively.

Bail was set at $200,000 (£155,000) and the women are barred from leaving the country, according to media reports.

• Read also: Iran: the journalist who interviewed the father of the murdered young woman Mahsa Amini was sentenced without a hearing