Iran / Middle East & North Africa

  
The Shargh Daily newspaper is seen in Tehran on July 10, 2019. A political columnist at the paper and another local journalist were recently sentenced to jailtime on propaganda charges. (Reuters/Nazanin Tabatabaee/West Asia News Agency)

Iranian court sentences 2 journalists to jail on propaganda charges

In October 2019, the Tehran Appeals Court sentenced Pouria Alami, a political columnist and satirist with the reformist Shargh Daily, to one year in prison and Tahereh Riahi, the former social affairs editor of the government-funded Borna News Agency, to two and a half years in prison, according to news reports and a person close…

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Downtown Tehran, Iran, is seen on July 10, 2019. Iranian authorities recently arrested exiled journalist Roohollah Zam. (WANA/Nazanin Tabatabaee via Reuters)

Iranian journalist in exile arrested, gives televised confession in Iran

On October 14, 2019, intelligence agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps arrested journalist and activist Roohollah Zam, manager of Amad News, a popular anti-government news channel on the messaging app Telegram, according to a statement by the guard corps that was broadcast on state media.

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10 Most Censored Countries

Repressive governments use sophisticated digital censorship and surveillance alongside more traditional methods to silence independent media. A special report by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Published September 10, 2019 Eritrea is the world’s most censored country, according to a list compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The list is based on CPJ’s research into the…

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A newspaper stand is seen in Tehran, Iran, on July 8, 2019. Newspaper columnist Hossein Ghadyani was recently sentenced to six months in prison for an Instagram post. (AFP)

Iran sentences conservative columnist Hossein Ghadyani to 6 months in prison for Instagram post

Washington, D.C., September 6, 2019 — Iranian authorities should release journalist Hossein Ghadyani from prison and stop jailing and harassing government critics, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Tehran, Iran, is seen on August 19, 2019. Reporter Marzieh Amiri was recently sentenced to 10.5 years in jail by a Tehran court. (AP/Vahid Salemi)

Iran sentences journalist Marzieh Amiri to 10.5 years in prison, 148 lashes

Washington D.C., August 26, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today strongly condemned the Tehran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Branch 28 Court’s sentencing of Shargh Daily economics reporter Marzieh Amiri to 10 and a half years in prison and 148 lashes.

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Iranian soccer players are seen in the United Arab Emirates on January 24, 2019. Photojournalist Forough Alaei was recently detained for 5 days over her coverage of women's access to soccer stadiums in Iran. (Reuters/Suhaib Salem)

Iranian photojournalist Forough Alaei detained for 5 days over soccer stadium coverage

On August 12, 2019, intelligence agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps arrested freelance photojournalist Forough Alaei and five women’s rights activists, accusing them of attempting to illegally enter Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, according to a report by the BBC’s Persian service. The six were released on bail on August 17, according to Iranian press freedom…

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Iran detains freelance photographer and culture reporter Nooshin Jafari

Washington, D.C., August 12, 2019–Iranian authorities arrested Nooshin Jafari, a photojournalist and culture reporter, outside her home in Tehran on August 3 as she was on her way to work. Jafari, a cinema and theater photographer who reports on culture for several Iranian magazines, was taken to an unknown location, according to news reports. Authorities…

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A man uses his smartphone to follow election news in Tehran, Iran, May 17, 2017. Iran charged four Telegram news channel Gam reporters over labor coverage, it was reported June 11. (Reuters/TIMA)

Iran charges Telegram news channel Gam reporters over labor coverage

Washington, D.C., June 13, 2019 — Iranian authorities should immediately release three reporters for Gam (Step), a Telegram app news channel covering labor issues, and drop all charges against them and one other reporter for the channel, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Iranian journalist Masoud Kazemi is seen entering Evin prison in Tehran on May 22, 2019. (Image via Twitter, used with permission)

Revolutionary court in Iran sentences journalist Masoud Kazemi to 4.5 years in prison

New York, June 3, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemned the sentencing today of Masoud Kazemi, the editor-in-chief of the monthly Sedaye Parsi political magazine. Judge Mohammad Moghiseh of Tehran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Branch 28 court found Kazemi guilty on national security charges of spreading misinformation and insulting the supreme leader and…

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Tehran, Iran, is seen on May 26, 2017. A Tehran court recently announced new charges and high bail against Sedaye Parsi editor-in-chief Masoud Kazemi. (AP/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Iran jails Sedaye Parsi editor Masoud Kazemi on new national security charges

Washington, D.C., May 22, 2019 – Iranian authorities should release journalist Masoud Kazemi and clarify or drop the charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Earlier today, Kazemi, editor-in-chief of the monthly Sedaye Parsi political magazine, arrived at the Tehran Revolutionary Guard Corps Branch 28 court to stand trial on anti-state propaganda…

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