Erfan Fard
The Iranian Constitution declares very typical rules regarding freedom of expression. Article 24 states: “Publications and the press have freedom of expression aside from when it is detrimental to the fundamental principles of Islam or the rights of the public.”
However, media freedom is strictly restricted both online and offline. The state broadcasting company, IRIB, is firmly under control of hard-liners and prompted by the mullah’s security apparatus.
Actually, News and analysis are profoundly censored, while critics and opposition members are once in a blue moon, if ever, given a platform on state-controlled television, which remains a main source of information for many Iranians.
In addition, state television has a record of broadcasting declaration of guilt isolated from political prisoners under duress, and it characteristically carries reports pointed at humiliating dissidents and opposition activists.
On an unprecedented scale, the regime’s authorities censored media, jammed satellite television channels and, added Instagram and WhatsApp to the list of blocked and filtered mobile apps and social media platforms, which included Facebook, Signal, Telegram, Twitter and YouTube. This is the kindness of the criminal mullahs on the Earth.
In other words, the authorities continually shut off or interrupted internet and mobile phone networks during nationwide anti-regime protests to control mobilization and hide the magnitude of violations and interruptions by regime’s security forces.
Notably, the Internet user protection bill, which has eroded online freedoms and access to the international internet, continued impending. In actuality, the regime of mullahs limiting access to online content.
The fact is that the regime banned all self-determining political parties, civil society organizations and independent trade unions, and subjected dramatic workers to reprisals.
Iran has severe rules when it comes to internet censorship. The Iranian regime and IRGC determinedly block social media, (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram)and many other websites (Blogger, HBO, YouTube, and Netflix.
In spite of the state-wide prohibition, several Iranian politicians use social networks to communicate with their followers (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram).
As well, constantly, Iranian authorities placed considerable pressure on journalists and writers and researchers. It should be noted that journalists receive numerous summonses or threats from prosecutors and intelligence agencies sporadically.
Several intellectuals were imprisoned or imprisoned or received sentences of lashes over false-news accusations during 2021 and 2022. There is no possibility for an appeals court.
Also, some intelligence officers have influence in the kangaroo courts and can put anyone in court on propaganda charges or for “spreading propaganda against the system.” There is no legal control at all.
Since 1979, Iran’s ambiguously has explained restrictions on speech, harsh criminal penalties, and state monitoring of online communications are among several factors that discourage citizens from participating in open and free private discussion.
Regardless of the risks, threats and limitations, many do express opposition on social media, in some cases bypassing official blocks on several platforms. If truth be told, the regime’s biggest victims are the Iranian people. Regime elites waste the people’s resources and opportunities, while controlling freedom and prime human rights in Iran. This is the reward of the criminal ayatollah’s regime.
In particular, the Iranian regime has discontinued and declined to reissuing foreign journalists’ credentials or renewing correspondents permits. Furthermore, they closed a newspaper friendly to its cause, part of a deteriorating restriction in a country with an abysmal repute for press freedoms. “Journalism and publishing books in Iran near annihilation,”
“This is a typical approach devoted by absolute regimes like Iran’s, to threaten and promote self-censorship mid external reporters,” that’s hostility to freedom of speech, for sure. The outlaw regime of mullahs in Tehran systematically targets journalists and restricts the freedom of expression.
Inordinately, hundreds of writers, intellectuals, translators and journalists and Internet activists stayed in prison to express their views online. Regarding freedom, Iran is the worst in the globe.
Dramatically, If anyone writes about anti-government protests or posting comments critical of the government on social media, will face viciousness and savageness of mullahs.
Lastly, I have a personal memoire regarding this matter, that how I faced a dramatic situation when I returned to Iran. you would not wish that on your worst enemy.
On 2012, after publishing my book in the US I faced jail in Iran, Ward 350 Evin prison. In my book “Nightmare of Evin” I explained the horrible situation in that notorious jail. One time they thrashed me withing an inch of my life. The agents beat the hall out of me before going to the interrogation room. Until this moment in 2023, I feel pain in my shoulders. No sooner had I sat down than the phone rang, and the agent shouted, “Agent of CIA!”. “Never blaspheme,” my mother said, but I was out of control that moment and I was profaning and out of breath. It goes without saying that I had a brush with death for no apparent reason! They had been fighting a rearguard action to label me as a CIA agent!
Then in the interrogation room, they were polite, but they pushed me to the breaking point mentally. MOIS used every trick in their book. The interrogator determined to win, by fair means or foul. After returning to the US, in front of Judge when he asked me did they beat you? I answered quietly, I gulped back my tears, “ it was not in the interrogation room!” I dropped a real clanger. He understood but he did not say “dream on!.. pigs might fly!”. The judge did not like to bring to mind those violent scenes. His honor did not say a word , just looked at my book silently. It means “let bygones be bygones”.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Erfan Fard is a counter-terrorism analyst and Middle East Studies researcher based in Washington, DC. He is in Middle Eastern regional security affairs with a particular focus on Iran, counter terrorism, IRGC, MOIS and ethnic conflicts in MENA. He graduated in International Security Studies (London M. University, UK), and in International Relations (CSU-LA). Erfan is a Jewish Kurd of Iran, and he is fluent in Persian, Kurdish, Arabic and English. / Follow him from this twitter account @EQFARD / The newly published book of Erfan Fard is: “The gruesome mullah” , which has been published in the USA. www.erfanfard.net