REGIONAL NEWS:
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

2. IRAN: ARTICLE 19 CAMPAIGN FOCUSES ON INTERNET CENSORSHIP
ARTICLE 19 has launched a campaign aimed at raising awareness of the increasing spread of Internet censorship in Iran.
Entitled "The Persian Impediment", the campaign features a website allowing visitors to report cases of censorship and participate in online discussions on freedom of expression. The website also lists bloggers and online journalists who have been imprisoned in Iran, and provides detailed information about how the Iranian government and religious leadership censors freedom of expression on the Internet.
Internet usage in Iran has grown substantially in the past few years as increasing numbers of Iranians turn to online chat rooms, blogs and e-mail to seek information and ideas. However, those who take risks and challenge the status quo are harshly penalised. Twenty-eight bloggers and online journalists have been imprisoned since 2003. Evidence suggests that fewer people are willing to speak out against the government as a result, says ARTICLE 19.
Visit the campaign website here: http://www.persianimpediment.org/
Visit these links:
- IFEX Alerts on Iran: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/221/
- Gozaar: https://www.gozaarjournal.org/
- Iran Watch Canada: http://moriab.blogspot.com/