Iran blocks Facebook in election run-up
Iran has blocked access to Facebook, prompting government critics to condemn the move as an attempt to muzzle the opposition before next month’s presidential election. Read more here
Banned Iranian and Chinese directors premiere at Cannes
China’s Lou Ye and Iran’s Bahman Ghobadi are both at Cannes Film Festival with movies made undercover after they were barred from working by the authorities at home. ” Read more here and here
Saberi leaves Iran but misses premiere at Cannes
US-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi has left Iran, and flown to Austria with her family after being acquitted of espionage charges on Monday. A film on censorship in Iranian music, co-scripted by Saberi and directed by 2006 Index on Censorship award winner, Bahman Ghobadi premiered at Cannes Film festival yesterday. Read more here
Roxana Saberi freed from Iran
American-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi, who was convicted on espionage charges, has been released by a Tehran court. Read more here