In Iran, newspapers censored, another reporter arrested

          
          In Iran, newspapers censored, amt1 r reporter arrested- ContSttee to Pr... http://cpj org/2009/07/in-iran-ntre-newspapers-censored-amther-reporte...
          C Committee to ProtectJournalists
          Defending Journal is: s Worldwide
          In Iran, newspapers censored, another reporter arrested
          New York, July 2, 2009--At least 24 journalists remain jailed in Iran, according to the latest CPJ research, while the
          government has instituted a broad and intrusive censorship regime.
          The government prevented a total of five national newspapers from publishing on Wednesday, according to local news
          reports. At least three of the papers said that representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance had
          stopped them from publishing articles because they tried to run articles about the defeated candidates, according to the
          Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), and statements by the newspapers.
          The Tehran-based Hayat e No, Hambastegy, Itmad e Mi/li, Andisha e No, and Seday e Edalet didn't appear on
          newsstands on Wednesday, ISNA reported (http:llisna.irlISNAINewsView.aspx?ID=News-1 364525) . Itmad e Mi/li, Hayat
          o No, and Soday w Edalet confirmed (http:/lwww.sedayedalat.com/fa/details.aspx?id=5585efc9-cldl-4491-
          b72a-bd592f5435aa) the (http://www.hayateno.info/lmacies/hayateno/267228 I . ipq) news (http:/lwww.etemademelli.ir
          lpubIishedlOIOOl4 Bl488Sl) . Hayat e No reported (http://www.hayateno.info/lmaqes/hayateno/267228 I jpg) on its Web
          site today that the newspaper did not publish for a second day in a row because of censorship.
          “Three weeks ago, Iran invited the international press to the country to witness its democratic elections. Now it is
          engaging in the kind of crude censorship that is the hallmark of an authoritarian regime,” said Mohamed Abdel Dayem,
          CPJ program coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa.
          Muhammad Jawad Haq-Shunas, manager of Etemad e Mel/i, which is owned by defeated presidential candidate Mehdi
          Karroubi, told ISNA that a representative of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance censored an article by Karroubi
          about the decision of the Council of Experts to uphold the disputed election results. “We were ready to leave the space
          [ where the article would have appeared] blank, but that was rejected,” he said. “At that hour, we could not replace the
          article.”
          Hameed Qazwini, editor-in-chief of Hayat e No, told ISNA that the ministry representative had deleted a number of
          articles, including one about the defeated candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi. On June 17, the newspaper and Hambasteav
          ( http:llcp orgI2OO9/O6/iran-censors-newspapers-amid-unrest.php ) were also not published (http:llcpj.orql2009IO6liran-
          censors-newspapers-amid-unrest.php) as a result of censorship. ISNA reported that Seday e Edalet gave similar
          reasons for not going to press. Hambastegy and Andisha e No were not available to comment, according to ISNA.
          Local journalists have increasingly complained about censorship in Iran following the country's disputed presidential
          elections on June 12. On June 22, at least 180 local journalists signed a petition complaining about censorship
          ( http:llcpi.orql2009lO6/in-iran-massive-media-crackdown-enters-second-week.php) .
          In a separate development, authorities arrested Abulfadh l Abidini, a freelance journalist and human right activist, on
          Tuesday in Ahwaz, southwest Iran, according to the U.S-funded Radio Farda. Security agents searched his house
          before taking him, the station reported.
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          In Iran, newspapers censored, amtlt reporter arrested- Conutittee to Pr,,, http://cpj org'2OO9/O7/in-iran-nte-newspapers-censored-ai tlier-reporte . .
          Dozens of journalists, most of whom work for local media, have been detained since June 12. At least two of them
          week.php) work for international media outlets. Below is a list of journalists who were detained in the aftermath of the
          disputed presidential elections.
          Note: Journalists who were detained but have since been released are not included. The list only includes
          journalists who remain in custody as of July 2. The names below reflect those whose detention could be
          independently verified by CPJ.
          Abulfazl Abedini , Freelance
          DETAINED: June 30, 2009
          Abidini, a freelance journalist and human right activist, was arrested in Ahwaz in southwest Iran on June 30, according to
          the U.S.-backed Radio Farda. Security agents searched his house before taking him, the radio station reported. Abidini
          was also arrested last year after he reported on a strike by workers at a factory in Ahwaz.
          Mujtaba Tehrani, Etemad e Melli
          DETAINED: June 27, 2009
          Tehrani, a reporter with the newspaper owned by defeated presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi, was arrested on his
          way home, according to Saham News, a news Web site affiliated with Karroubi. According to Saham News, Tehrani had
          informed his family that he was returning home from work, but never arrived. The following day police visited his home,
          searched it, and took his computer, the Web site reported.
          Names unknown (3), Kalameh Sabz
          DETAINED: June 22, 2009
          Although 25 staffers of Kalameh Sabz, a newspaper owned by defeated presidential contender Mir-Hossein Mousavi,
          were initially detained, Ayande News, a self-described independent news Web site, reported on June 29 that 22 of them
          had been released.
          Alireza Beheshti, Kalameh Sabz
          DETAINED: June 22, 2009
          Beheshti, editor-in-chief of Kalameh Sabz, was arrested on June 22 as he was leaving the newspaper, according to
          several local news reports. His arrest came hours after security agents detained about 25 staffers, local press reported.
          Mustafa Qwanlu Ghajar, Sepideh Danaei
          DETAINED: June 22, 2009
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          In Iran, newspapers censored, amt1 r reporter arrested- ContSttee to Pr... http://cpj org/2009/07/in-iran-ntre-newspapers-censored-amther-reporte...
          Ghajar, a journalist with the monthly magazine Sepideb Danaei who also blogs at Ghajar ( http:I/www.qhajar.irI) , was
          arrested on June 22, according to local news reports. The details of his arrest remain unknown.
          Maziar Bahari, Newsweek
          DETAINED: June 20, 2009
          Security agents arrested Newsweek 's Tehran correspondent, Maziar Bahari, the magazine reported
          ( http: / /www.newsweek.com/idl203036 ) . The officers, who did not identify themselves, took Bahari's laptop and several
          videotapes, according to Newsweek. On June 30, Fars News agency posted (http:llwww.farsnews.net
          / newstext.php?nn=8804091286) an 11-page “confession” from Bahari in which he allegedly blames Western media
          groups for the unrest that followed the contested June 12 presidential elections.
          Zhila Bani-Yaghoub, Iranian Women's Club
          Bahman Ahmadi Omavi, Affiliation unknown
          DETAINED: June 19, 2009
          Bani-Yaghoub and Omavi, who are married, were arrested by security forces in Tehran, the U.S.-funded Radio Farda
          reported (http:/Iwww.radiofarda.com/contentlF8 JILA BAHMAN ARREST/1759040.html) . Bani-Yaghoub is the editor-
          in-chief of the Iranian Women's Club, a women's rights Web site (http:llirwomen.netl) . Ishrat Awliai, Bani-Yaghoub's
          mother, told the Iranian Women's Club on July 1 that since her arrest Bani-Yaghoub has contacted her family just once
          from Evin Prison. The mother also said that during the raid security agents took two computers and mobile phones.
          Rajab-Ali Mazroui, the Association of Iranian Journalists
          DETAINED: June 19, 2009
          Mazroui, director of the Association of Iranian Journalists, was arrested on June 19, according to multiple local news
          reports. The details of his arrest in Tehran remain unknown.
          Muhammad Chouchani, Etemad e MeIIi
          DETAINED: June 19, 2009
          Ghouchani, editor-in-chief of Etemad e Melli , which is owned by defeated presidential candidate Mehdi Karroubi, was
          arrested on June 19 by Ettelaat intelligence agents, the BBC Persian service reported (http:llwww.bbc.co.uklpersian
          11q1iran120091061090620 ba-ir88-qhouchani.shtml) . On June 30, Javan, a newspaper aligned with President Mahmoud
          Ahmedinejad, published a “confession” allegedly made by Ghouchani, although the paper only identified him by his
          initials. The newspaper reported that Ghouchani confessed to having been trained in a Persian Gulf country in
          preparation for a revolution.
          lason Athanasiadis, freelance/The Washington Times
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          In Iran, newspapers censored, amt1 r reporter arrested- ContSttee to Pr... http://cpj org/2009/07/in-iran-ntre-newspapers-censored-amther-reporte...
          DETAINED: June 17, 2009
          Pars News, a semi-official news agency, reported on Athanasiadis' arrest without revealing his name. The agency only
          said that the journalist was working for the Washington Times. Athanasiadis, a dual Greek and British national, was later
          identified by name by the Iranian government. He was detained at the airport as he was preparing to leave the country.
          Saeed Laylaz, Sarmaia
          DETAINED: June 17, 2009
          Lilaz, a journalist for the daily business journal Sarmaia and a vocal critic of President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad's
          economic policy, was arrested in his home on June 17, his wife, Sepharnaz Panahi, told the BBC Persian service
          ( http:llwww.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2009/06/090617 op ir88 arrests continue.shtml)' . She said that officers searched
          their home and confiscated videotapes, hard disks, and letters. The family doesn't know where Lilaz is being held, the
          BBC reported. .Sarmaia also reported (http:/Iwww.sarmayeh.net/PDF/88-03-28/P2.pdf) the arrest.
          Karim Arghandehpour, blogger
          DETAINED: June 17, 2009
          Arghandehpour, a journalist who blogs at Futurama (http:llfuturama.ir/ , was arrested on June 17, according to news
          reports. Arghandehpour wrote for the now-defunct reformist newspapers Salaam and Vaghaa-ye-Ettefaaghyeh,
          according to the Tehran Bureau, a news Web site.
          Mohammad Ali Abtahi, blogger
          DETAINED: June 16, 2009
          The well-known blogger Abtahi (http://www.webneveshteha.com/) , who is an advisor to the defeated presidential
          candidate Mehdi Karroubi and was vice president during Mohammad Khatami's presidency, was arrested on June 16,
          the BBC Persian service reported (http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/2OO9/O6/O9O616 he ir88 abtahi-arrest.shtml) . A
          blog entry (http://www.webneveshteha.com/en/ ) on his site states that he will resume writing as soon as he is released.
          His wife, Fatima Abtahi, told the BBC that three men in plainclothes visited their home in Tehran and took him away.
          Sumaia Tawhidlu, blogger
          DETAINED: Mid-June
          Tawhidlu, who blogs at Sahel e Salamat ( http://www.smto.ir/) and is a supporter of defeated reformist candidate
          Mir-Hossein Mousavi, was arrested in mid-June in Tehran, according to local news reports. The precise date of her
          arrest is unknown.
          Ahmad Zaid-Abadi, Rooz Online
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          In Iran, newspapers censored, amt1 r reporter arrested- ContSttee to Pr... http://cpj org/2009/07/in-iran-ntre-newspapers-censored-amther-reporte...
          DETAINED: Mid-June
          Zaid-Abadi, a well-known journalist who writes a weekly column for Rooz Online, a Farsi and English reformist news
          Web site, was arrested in mid-June in Tehran. Zaid-Abadi is also the director of the Organization of University Alumni of
          the Islamic Republic of Iran and a supporter of the defeated candidate Mehdi Karroubi. The details of his arrest remain
          unknown.
          Mehamsa Amrabadi, Etemad e MeIIi
          Behzad Bashbo, date unknown
          Khalil Mir-Ashrafi, date unknown
          DETAINED: June 15, 2009
          Amrabadi, a reporter for Etemad e Melli newspaper, was arrested on June 15, her mother, Maryam Naqi, told
          ( http:llwww.bbc.co.uklpersian/lgliranl2009/06 1090620 ba-ir88-qhouchani.shtml) the BBC Persian service. Naqi told the
          BBC that the Ministry of Justice informed her on June 18 that her daughter was being held at Evin Prison. On June 17,
          Ham Mi / ian, a news Web site, reported that the cartoonist Bashbo and television producer Mir-Ashrafi were guests at
          Amrabadi's home in Tehran when all the three were detained.
          Mojtaba Pour-Mohssen, Gilan lmrouz
          DETAINED: June 15, 2009
          Ettelaat intelligence agents in Rasht, 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Tehran, arrested Pour-Mohssen, editor-
          in-chief of the daily Gilan lmrouz and contributor to Radio Zamaaneh (http:Ilzamaaneh.coml) , an Internet radio station,
          according to the online station. It reported that agents took a computer, books, and films from his home. Pour-Mohssen
          also authors a blog called Haftha (http:llpourmohsen.com/) . His blog was last updated on June 13. Radio Zamaaneh
          reported that he is being held at Lakan Prison in Rasht.
          Shiwa Nazar-Ahari, blogger
          DETAINED: June 14, 2009
          Nazar-Ahari, a blogger (http:llazadiezan.mihanbloq.coml) and a member of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters,
          a local watchdog group, was arrested by Ettelaat intelligence agents in her Tehran office on June 14, the committee
          reported (http:llchrr.uslspip.php?article43O6) .
          Kayvan Samimi, Nama
          DETAINED: June 14, 2009
          Samimi, manager of the now-defunct monthly magazine Nama, was arrested on June 14 in Tehran, according to multiple
          online articles.
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