19 Sep 2011 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost, News
According to Iranian state media, five journalists allegedly working for BBC Persian were arrested on 17 September for filming a documentary without permission from the foreign press department of the culture ministry. The arrests were confirmed by Minister Mohammad Hosseini. The BBC has meanwhile released a statement stating that the journalists in question do not work for BBC Persian, contrary to reports from Iranian authorities. In the past, Iranian officials have accused BBC Persia, which is banned in Iran, of covering the nation negatively as well as inciting unrest.
9 Sep 2011 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
On Monday, Iran prevented filmmaker Mojtaba Mirtahmasb from boarding a flight to Paris in order to attend the Toronto film festival, where his documentary about the detained filmmaker Jafar Panahi will be shown. The film shows a day in the life of Panahi, who is currently serving a six-year prison sentence for a film he made about the unrest in Iran following the disputed election in 2009.
7 Sep 2011 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Iranian magazine Shahrvand-e-Emrooz was closed this week for after publishing a satirical front-page image depicting President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad being lectured by his Chief-of-Staff, Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei. The image, published last month, highlighted Iranian conservatives concerns about Mashaei’s growing political influence, his opponents claim he is attempting to undermine clerical power in Iran. Shahrvand-e-Emrooz was faced restrictions before, it was temporarily closed following civil unrest during and after the 2009 elections.
6 Sep 2011 | Azerbaijan News, Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
A journalist claims he was kidnapped and expelled from Azerbaijan. Yafez Hasanov, an Azerbaijani correspondent from Radio Azadliq, part of Radio Free Europe, was in Naxcivan investigating the death of airport technician Turaz Zeynalov, when he was abducted by three men. The suspects — who were driving a vehicle similar to those used by government security officials — told him that if he returned to Naxcivan, it would “cost him.” The men branded Zeynalov, who died after being summoned to the National Security Ministry, a “traitor.” Hasanov was taken to the Iranian border and told to return to Baku via Iran, where RFE is considered an illegal organisation.
