An election that might save books in Iran

May 16th, 2013

Once the Islamic republic’s biggest cultural event, the Tehran International Book Fair – now in its 26th year — has wilted under President Mahmood Ahmadinejad’s hardline government. Raha Zahedpour reports on the recession in Iran’s publishing industry.

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Iranian blogger detained for criticising regime dies in custody

November 9th, 2012

Iranian blogger Sattar Beheshti was allegedly tortured to death in a prison in Tehran on Thursday (8 November). Beheshti, 35 was arrested on 28 October by Iranian police on charges of “actions against national security on social networks and Facebook.” The human rights defender had received death threats as a result of his anti-government blog and had reportedly filed a complaint about torture during his time in the detention facility. His family say they were told by police to pick up his body on Wednesday and have been prevented from visiting his grave, with the exception of his brother-in-law. France and Britain have called on Tehran to investigate.

German journalists released in Iran

February 22nd, 2011

Marcus Hellwig and Jens Koch, the German journalists imprisoned in Tabriz have been released, after the government reduced their 20 month sentences for reporting on the case of a Iranian woman sentenced to death for adultery in 2006. The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has defended criticism of the foreign minister’s meeting with Iranian president, saying it was necessary to secure the journalists’ release.

Iran: Journalist held in solitary confinement

November 9th, 2010

The mother of journalist Nazanin Khosravani, who was arrested last week, says her daughter is being held in solitary confinement at Tehran’s notorious Evin prison. Azam Afsharian told Radio Free Europe that in a short phone call Khosravani had said she was being kept in Ward 209, which is run by the Iranian Intelligence Ministry. Prior to the phone call, Evin officials had denied her daughter was even a prisoner there. Khosravani, who is currently unemployed but previously worked for reformist newspapers, was arrested on November 3.

France: Mayor of Paris appeals for “blogfather”

September 24th, 2010

Bertrand Delanoé, the mayor of Paris, yesterday called for the Iranian authorities to spare the life of Hossein Derakhshan. In a press release, the mayor described Derakhshan as “ friend of France and Paris” and appealed for help to “save this honourable, courageous and dignified life”. Delanoé’s words will add to the growing calls in support of Derakhshan. His girlfriend Sandria Murcia has released a statement encouraging the “global community to help”. See also: Hossein Derakhshan may face death penalty

Iran bails French teaching assistant

August 17th, 2009

Iran has freed on bail a 24-year-old French university lecturer who was charged with spying after last month’s presidential election. A statement from the French presidency said Clotilde Reiss was in good health and would stay at the French embassy in Tehran awaiting a verdict in her trial. Read more here

Iran: “I will continue to report, but I fear that I may be arrested”

June 16th, 2009

Reporter Saeed Kamali Dehghan describes the struggle to get information in and out of Tehran
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