Iran

New York, August 25, 2009–The fourth session of the mass trial of more than 100 opposition figures, including journalists, took place in Tehran today. The Committee to Protect Journalists is particularly dismayed by procedural irregularities and the fact that the trial is only open to state-owned media. 

New York, August 18, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the government’s censorship of the daily newspaper Etemad e Melli on Monday.

New York, August 14, 2009–In a letter addressed to the head of the Iranian judiciary, four defense lawyers protested that they were not allowed to attend the latest hearing, on August 8, in a mass trial in which more than 100 defendants, including journalists, stand accused of anti-state activities. 

New York, August 12, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the news that photojournalist Majid Saeedi has been released on bail in Iran, but remains concerned that he still faces charges. 

New York, August 6, 2009–Officials shut down the office of the Association of Iranian Journalists in Tehran on Wednesday night, just after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was sworn in for a second term, according to international news reports. 

New York, August 5, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists called today for the release of three Americans–one of whom is a journalist–who were arrested on July 31 in Iran. The three have been charged with illegally entering the country. 

New York, August 4, 2009–Five journalists have been released in Iran, including one on Monday who had been held for a year. The other four were picked up in the crackdown following the June 12 elections.

Responding to reports that journalists were among the more than 100 defendants put on trial in Iran today for conspiring against the government, we issued the following statement…

New York, July 31, 2009–Iran’s official news agency claimed that a prominent filmmaker arrested Thursday has been released, but there is no independent confirmation. Two other documentarians detained at the same time remain in custody, according to international news reports.

New York, July 30, 2009–After more than a month of detention, several journalists may face trial beginning on Saturday on charges of “sending pictures to enemy media.” Three documentary filmmakers were arrested today, bringing the total of journalists currently held in Iranian jails to 42, the highest count in the world.