6 Oct 2011 | Index Index, minipost
Wikipedia have shut down their Italian language page in protest against a wiretapping act being proposed to the country’s parliament. The proposed law would require websites to publish within 48 hours a correction or comment relating to any content an applicant has deemed “detrimental to their image,” or risk being fined €12,000. In a message posted on the site on Wednesday, Wikipedia said the page was currently just hidden, but explained there was a risk they would soon be forced to delete it. The proposed rule has already received substantial criticism as a tool that will damage free expression.
6 Oct 2011 | Iran, Middle East and North Africa
Religious women will be stationed outside of Tehran’s underground stations in an effort to enlighten and guide female commuters back on the straight and narrow path.
The Chief of Operations of Tehran’s Metro system Ali Mohammad Gholiha, told Mehr News that 50 women will be placed at various underground locations “to enable passengers to ask questions or discuss any religious problems they may have.” A similar effort was launched for men during Ramadan this year, with 80 seminary students stationed at 30 stops, and they even tried the initiative in one female carriage.
The missionaries work directly in the carriages, and Mehr News confronted Gholiha about the reported instances of men trespassing onto the women-only carriages without penalty. His reply was that they did not want to promote negativity while the system was established among passengers. Such a statement is hypocritical, since interference is a regular aspect of life in Iran. The Chief of Operations’ assurance was that “a cultural announcement is made every 10 minutes over the tannoy, that we hope attitudes of resistance will disappear by the end of the trial period.”
Meanwhile, Tehran artist Elham Attai Azar has responded with these illustrations depicting the character and assortment of female commuters in Tehran.
5 Oct 2011 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost, News and features
The Head of Global News at the BBC has sought government action over the increasing “intimidation” of their staff in Iran. In a BBC blog post Peter Horrocks claimed yesterday that there had been an increase in “anti-BBC rehtoric” following a broadcast the BBC aired on Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in mid September. The BBC Persian TV channel has been blocked, and 6 independent documentary makers whose films have appeared on the channel, have been arrested. Police and officials have also reportedly been arresting, questioning and intimidating family members of staff. Horrocks called for the British government to deter the Iranian government from these attempts to undermine free media.
5 Oct 2011 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Hamas’s interior ministry has adopted new rules restricting the reporting of foreign journalistse. According to the new rules, foreign journalists would have to apply to Gaza’s interior ministry in advance, and processing “could take several days”. The application process also requires foreign journalists to name a “guarantor” in the Gaza strip. According to government officials, the news regulations are necessary for “security and control purposes.”
