12 Jun 12 | Azerbaijan News, Europe and Central Asia, Index Index, minipost
A journalist and government critic has been sentenced to two years in prison in Azerbaijan. Anar Bayramli, a correspondent for two Iranian media outlets, was sentenced for a drug possession charge following a controversial court case which was said to include contradictory evidence. Bayramli was arrested in February and charged with possession of four grams of heroin. The journalist was previously summoned by police on a number of occasions to disclose his political affiliation. The sentencing comes at a time when tensions between Azerbaijan and neighbouring Iran are particularly heightened.
11 Jun 12 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Iran’s cyber police will carry out a new crackdown on software used to circumvent the country’s strict censorship media according to reports by local news agencies. The head of the specialised police unit examining security issues, claimed approximately 20-30% of Iranians currently use Virtual Private Networks (VPN) to access content restricted by the regime. Kamal Hadianfar announced the country is forming a new commission to block the technology, which is illegal for citizens. The country has been working on creating a “national internet”, and has discouraged the usage of foreign communication services, such as Gmail and Yahoo.
23 May 12 | Azerbaijan News, Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
The whereabouts of two Azerbaijani writers remains unknown, after they were allegedly kidnapped in Iran. Farid Huseyn and Shahriyar Hajizade were reportedly set upon by eight men in civilian dress as their bus arrived from Tehran into Tabriz, in northwestern Iran on 2 May. Huseyn, from news website 525 and daily newspaper Kaspiy, and Hajizade, who writes about youth issues on social networks, visited Tehran for the presentation of an Iranian edition of Huseyn’s writings. It is believed the pair are being held by Iranian security forces, though no information has been provided by the authorities.
15 May 12 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
A sentence handed to an Iranian cartoonist may be quashed after the MP who brought the case withdrew his complaint. Mahmoud Shokraye faced 25 lashes after local conservative MP Ahmad Lotfi Ashtiani took offence at a caricature the artist had drawn. Shokraye was found guilty of insulting Ashtiani at a media law court in Arak last week. The sentence caused outcry internationally and within Iran, forcing the MP to withdraw his complaint.
