Index on Censorship calls on the head of Iran’s judiciary to overturn the prison sentences handed down this week to the film directors Jafar Panahi and
Mohammad Rasoulof
CATEGORY: Middle East and North Africa
Bitter abstinence
Mourning means different things to different people. Even within one culture. But the month of Moharram, (7 December–4 January) the first month of the Islamic Calendar with its decrees and limitations is interpreted beyond the letter in Iran. To...
Jafar Panahi jailed, banned from film directing
Iranian director Jafar Panahi has been sentenced to six years in prison for "colluding in gathering and making propaganda against the regime". Panahi has also been banned from directing films or speaking to the press for 20 years.
Iran: Activists detained for planning a meeting
Four activists from the youth branch of the reformist Islamic Participation Front have been detained after they were summoned to a resident court in Evin prison. According to opposition website Rahesabz, prison officials cited "plan[s] to hold...
Politicised Tunis judges get a light sentence
Tunisian judges meet Sunday (19 December) with their rights controlled by a state that has not hesitated to exile, discipline or dock the wages of colleagues who object to its political interference. What will they do about this? Not much.
The fight to save Iran’s oldest art gallery
Iran’s oldest gallery of contemporary art is under threat of closure. Tehran’s Seyhoun Gallery opened its doors in 1966, showcasing, launching and establishing many of Iran’s prominent 20th-century artists. Founded by the painter Massoumeh Seyhoun,...
Kuwait: Al Jazeera office shut down
Al Jazeera's office in Kuwait City has been shut down after the news channel broadcast footage of police brutality against members of the Kuwaiti opposition. The footage showed police beating activists, and the channel aired interviews with members...
Iran: Union activist denied bail despite hunger strike
Labour activist, Reza Shahabi remains in custody despite the payment of bail USD 100,000 by his family. Shahabi, who was detained on 12 June, was due to be released on 11 October but two months on he has still not been Evin prison. In protest to...
Iran: Two more journalists detained
The Iranian authorities have arrested former journalist Mehran Faraji, and Reyhaneh Tabatabaei, Shargh newspaper's political correspondent. Last week, four other workers from the reformist newspaper, Ahamd Gholami, Farzaneh Roostayi, Keyvan...
Iranian writers’ call for Julian Assange’s release
A group of Iranian exiled Iranian writers has written an open letter calling for the release of Julian Assange: آزادی بیان مهمترین رکن یک جامعهی دموکراتیک آزادی بیان دستآورد سالها مبارزهی آزادیخواهان جهان است. دولتهای کشورهای پیشرفته و...