Iran’s controlling interest
Ahmad Rajabzadeh’s ‘Book Censorship’ is a guide to some of the stranger examples of literary repression in Iran. Azar Mahloujian takes a look
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Iran launches new webmail service
The Iranian authorities have launched a new webmail service intended to be a substitute for public employees currently using Gmail, Yahoo mail or Hotmail accounts. The new Iran.ir webmail service is easier to control than the foreign services currently used by 95% of Iranian public sector employees. Internet and text-messaging services in Iran has recently been the victim of the government’s crackdown on free speech in the country. Both services will experience disruptions this week as heavy protests are anticipated on the anniversary of the Islamic revolution on 11 February. The authorities claim the disruptions are due to damages to the fibre-optic cables and ‘changing software’.
Iran executes two opposition supporters
Two men accused of plotting to overthrow the regime were hanged in Tehran yesterday. Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour, 19, were convicted of being ‘enemies of God’.
The pair were the first to be put to death after more than 100 dissidents were put on trial following protests disputing President Ahmadinejad’s re-election. They were among 11 people sentenced to death for their alleged involvement in the post-election violence.
The executions have increased fears for bloggers Mehrdad Rahimi and Kouhyar Goudarzi, convicted of wanting to wage ‘a war against God’. The men were contributors to an opposition website.
Iran threatens opposition on cell phone, e-mail use
Iran’s police chief today warned the opposition movement that their emails and text messages are being monitored and that those who use SMS, emails or other web tools to organise protests will be severely punished.
General Ismail Ahmadi-Moghaddam said the police would show no mercy. He was quoted by the state-run Iranian Students News Agency as saying “Attending illegal gatherings, rioting and insulting the sacred are reason for police reaction,” but “those who organize the gathering commit a bigger crime.”
Ahmadi-Moghaddam also warned the opposition supporters using proxy servers to disguise their location that it was mistake to believe proxies could prevent the government from identifying them.