Stories about Iran
After 71 Days on Hunger Strike, Arash Sadeghi Sees Iranian Authorities Release His Wife on Bail
Iraee was charged after Iran's Revolutionary Guards raided her home, looking for evidence against her civil rights activist husband, Arash Sadeghi.
Iranian Civil Rights Defender Continues Hunger Strike, Protesting His Wife's Arrest For Fiction Writings
The campaign to free civil rights defender Arash Sadeghi has reached a critical point. Two months into his hunger strike, many worry Sadeghi's life is on the line.
Imprisoned Iranian Activist Faces New Charges After Complaint About Mistreatment
"When asked to produce a warrant, they attacked me. One of the agents, who I’m embarrassed to say was a woman, started to beat me."
The Thin Line Between Political Censorship and Fighting Fake News in Iran
Iran wants to regulate social-media news accounts with more than 5,000 followers because of the dangers of fake news. But what about the danger to free speech?
‘My Life for Iran': The 4th Anniversary of Iranian Activist Sattar Beheshti's Death
Sattar Beheshti has come to embody the spirit of resistance in Iran, in an ongoing struggle against freedom of expression and government repression.
Iran Is Poised to Limit Press Freedom Even More Than It Already Does
The government of President Rouhani is preparing two bills that media experts and journalists say could further erode press freedom and freedom of expression in Iran.
Hello Vodafone: What Does It Mean When a Global Telco Giant Enters Iran?
Vodafone's partnership with an Iranian telco is a welcome improvement to the local telecommunications market. But the potential for complicity between Vodafone and Iran's surveillance infrastructure is hard to ignore.
Reality, Conspiracy and the US ‘Internet Freedom’ Agenda: Deconstructing Iran's Case Against Nizar Zakka
Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese citizen was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison by Iranian for leading U.S. funded projects in Iran. We deconstruct this situation.
Netizen Report: Open Source Developers Endure Long Prison Sentences, And Worse
Global Voices Advocacy's Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in Internet rights around the world.
Help End the Imprisonment of Iranian Web Developer Saeed Malekpour
Saeed Malekpour was arrested and jailed in 2008 over someone else's use of his open source code to upload pornographic material to the Internet.
Hackers Exploit Android Flaw to Target Iranian Activists
Suspected state-sponsored hackers have intensified their attempts to break into the online accounts of Iranian rights activists in recent weeks by exploiting security vulnerabilities in Android smartphones.
Iran Declares ‘Unveiling’ of its National Intranet
Iran declared a grand "unveiling" of its national internet. But what's really new here? We analyze the project and the government performance around its so-called "unveiling".
Wife of Persecuted Labour Activist Goes to Trial Over Facebook Post
The wife of a labor activist has been charged with posting “insulting” content on Facebook even though she is not a member of the social media site.
PokéStops or Stopping Poké? Iran Reacts to the Pokémon Go Phenomenon
How has one of the most restricted Internet environments, with censors on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, reacted to Pokémon Go?
Iranian Hardliners Want to Stop Blocking Twitter — to Defeat Saudi Propaganda
Iranian hardliners, typically champions of Internet censorship, are calling on the government to stop blocking Twitter in order to counter Saudi Arabian propaganda against Iran.
Imprisoned in Iran for Posting Jokes on Facebook, A Computer Engineer Awaits His Appeal Verdict
Political prisoners in Iran are routinely singled out for harsh treatment, which often includes denial of medical care.
The Iranian State Versus Kim Kardashian
The story is so absurd that it seems funny, at first glance. But the Iranian state's problems with Kim Kardashian are no laughing matter.
Iranian Blogger Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki Freed on Bail
"With every departure there is a return. Even when weak and ill we must stand and smile. We must go on..." writes Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki.
Iranian Cartoonist Atena Farghadani Goes Free on World Press Freedom Day
On May 3, just in time for World Press Freedom Day, Iranian cartoonist Atena Farghadani was released from Evin Prison.
Imprisoned Iranian Cartoonist Hadi Heidari Goes Free
"By the grace of God, I was released from Evin Prison tonight after serving time. Thank you all for the kindness," Hadi Heidari wrote on Instagram.
