Crackdown on dissent extends to "last available sanctuary" for free expression: the web

Earlier this month, web developer Saeed Malekpour and IT professionals Vahid Asghari and Ahmad Reza Hasempour had their death sentences confirmed for allegedly hosting illegal content online, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). They are the newest victims of Iran's latest wave of arrests and convictions - one that has mushroomed into a clampdown against online dissent, just before parliamentary elections on 2 March.

New spate of arrests, including of a film crew, on bogus "conspiracy" charges

The wheels of injustice sped up again in Iran in the last few weeks with a new round of arrests of journalists and filmmakers and the handing down of an 11-year sentence to an ailing human rights defender.

Authorities responsible for death of dissident Hoda Saber, says RSF

The Iranian authorities are responsible for the death of jailed journalist and dissident Hoda Saber, who died of a heart attack on 10 June after going on hunger strike, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Authorities responsible for Siamak Pourzand's death

The Iranian authorities are responsible for Iranian journalist Siamak Pourzand's suicide, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Detained and under house arrest for the past 10 years, banned from leaving the country and separated from his family, Pourzand, 80, committed suicide on 29 April in Tehran, report RSF and PEN American Center.

Jailed Iranian journalist wins World Press Freedom Prize

In 2009, well-known Iranian journalist Ahmad Zeidabadi was one of dozens of journalists arrested following the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and charged with plotting to overthrow the government with a "soft revolution". He was sentenced to six years in jail, five years of exile and a lifetime ban from practising journalism. In 2011, he has been awarded the UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize.

Journalists, peaceful protesters violently suppressed

The ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has reinvigorated protests across the Arab region, resulting in clashes between security forces and protesters in Algeria, Bahrain, Iran and Yemen, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Human Rights Watch and IFEX members in the region.

Seven journalists arrested in less than one week

As Iran began a round of discussions with the international community on its nuclear programme in recent months, it has stepped up attacks on the media, living up to its reputation as the world's leading jailer of journalists. Police raided the office of Iran's flagship reformist paper, "Shargh", twice on 7 December and beat and arrested four of its journalists, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), ARTICLE 19 and Index on Censorship. Three more journalists have been arrested since then, on top of more news of abusive treatment endured by Iranian prisoners.

Jailed Iranian journalist receives WAN-IFRA Golden Pen of Freedom

Ahmad Zeid-Abadi, an Iranian journalist who was thrown in jail following Iran's disputed presidential election last year, has been awarded the 2010 Golden Pen of Freedom, the annual press freedom prize of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

The "Blogfather" gets 19 years in regime's war on opinion

One blogger has just been sentenced to 19.5 years in prison, another faces the death penalty and three journalists have been handed multi-year prison terms in Iran, report IFEX members. Take action now to support "The Blogfather," as Hossein Derakhshan is known, by signing the petition at: http://www.freetheblogfather.org/

Violence against critical voices continues one year after disputed elections

One year after the disputed 12 June elections in Iran, the regime continues to tighten its grip and methodically crush dissent. IFEX members are calling on the Iranian government to release all imprisoned journalists and writers and end its repression of press freedom and free expression in the country.

IFEX members deliver petition demanding the release of imprisoned journalists

A coalition of 16 free expression organisations, including many IFEX members, delivered a petition with 3,500 signatures to Iran's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York City on 6 April, calling for the release of imprisoned journalists, writers and bloggers.

IFEX members spearhead campaign to release imprisoned Iranian journalists

A coalition of IFEX members launched a campaign last week on the 31st anniversary of the Iranian revolution, to pressure the government of Iran to release journalists and activists imprisoned for exercising their right to free expression. The "Our Society Will Be a Free Society" campaign is named for a pledge that Ayatollah Khomenei made during the 1979 Iranian Revolution to protect freedom of expression and the press.

Systematic suppression of dissent continues

Iranian authorities are carrying out a lethal campaign to silence independent journalists and critics, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Two Iranian netizens and human rights activists are possibly facing the death penalty. RSF has accused the Iranian regime of crimes against humanity.

Journalists and opposition critics rounded up; 42 imprisoned

Iranian authorities have been on the hunt for prominent independent journalists and opposition figures in a new wave of arrests that began a day after opposition demonstrations took place countrywide on 27 December 2009, report IFEX members. Iran is now the world's biggest prison for media with 42 journalists behind bars as of this week, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

ARTICLE 19 launches Iranian blog, Azad Tribune

The Iranian regime views any expression of dissent as opposition that must be controlled, with tighter controls on mass communication, bans on foreign press and deadly responses to peaceful protest, says ARTICLE 19. Opposition publications are routinely muzzled

Protesters ferociously attacked; dissidents hunted down

Iranian authorities have meticulously carried out total control of news and information in the last week, gearing up for National Students' Day on 7 December, reports Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Recently, two prominent journalists were sentenced to lengthy prison terms, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Others are being summoned for interrogation or simply arrested.

Torture of opposition critics and journalists continues; free speech monitored online

A UN human rights committee accused the Iranian government on 20 November of ramping up its use of torture, flogging and amputation of dissidents, reports Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The government has also launched a new Web Crime Unit, policing one of the last spaces for free expression in Iran as it attempts to tighten its control over information, ideas and opinions, reports ARTICLE 19.

Journalist freed on bail; repression continues

Journalist Maziar Bahari was freed on bail on 17 October after spending 120 days in Tehran's Evin prison, report Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE).

Journalists forced to confess in show trials; detainees tortured

The media was excoriated in Iran last week in the farcical mass trial of opponents of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election, reports Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Authorities continue to detain journalists employed by foreign media and target bloggers.

Now world's worst jailer of journalists

With approximately 40 journalists now in prison, Iran has surpassed China as the world's worst jailer of media workers, report Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).