Ahead of Iranian presidential election, arrests and restrictions on Internet access
In Iran, tensions have risen ahead of next week’s presidential election. A human rights group says several campaign staffers and members of civil society groups have been detained after tens of thousands of mourners filled streets in the city, Isfahan this week, chanting anti-government slogans. A video posted online at the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center shows protesters Tuesday at the funeral of Ayatollah Jalaleddin Taheri Esfahani, considered a dissident cleric. Rising inflation, prompted partly by US-led sanctions, have made the economy a key issue in the election campaign, where eight candidates are vying to replace Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has held the office since 2005. Voting will take place June 14th. For more, we speak with Gissou Nia, executive director with the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center. She joins us from New Haven, Connecticut.
Originally published at : http://fsrn.org/audio/ahead-iranian-presidential-election-arrests-and-restrictions-internet-access/12102
