Reporters Without Borders: Rouhani Should Create Freedom of Information Backed by the People's Vote

Reporters Without Borders has protested against the restrictions on information during the parliamentary elections held on March 7 in Iran, urging Hassan Rouhani's government to leverage the people's vote to create a foundation for fundamental freedoms in the country, including freedom of information. The statement released by this group on Wednesday, March 12, refers to the fifth Assembly of Experts election and the tenth Islamic Consultative Assembly election as 'unfree' elections, where many candidates were disqualified by the Guardian Council under justifications such as 'lack of practical commitment to Islam, the Islamic Republic, and the Supreme Leader.' Reporters Without Borders then addresses the state of information dissemination in Iran, mentioning the 37 imprisoned journalists and citizen reporters in the country, which reflects a policy of 'complete media control' and 'suppressing any dissenting voice.' Among these media activists mentioned in the Reporters Without Borders statement are Afrin Chitsaz (columnist for Iran newspaper), Ehsan Mazandarani (editor-in-chief of Farhikhtegan newspaper), Eisa Saharkhiz (independent journalist), and Saman Safarzadeh (collaborator with Andisheh Pouya magazine), who were arrested a few months prior to the March 7 elections. Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders emphasizes that 'Hassan Rouhani and his reformist and moderate allies have no justification for keeping 37 journalists and citizen reporters imprisoned.' Reporters Without Borders also points to 'the Iranian government's and security agencies' efforts to 'control' media based outside the country, which currently serve as 'the only alternative source of access to information for citizens.' The statement indicates that Reporters Without Borders has documented 'dozens of threats against exiled journalists collaborating with global media in Persian and independent media such as Radio Zamaneh, Radio Farda, BBC, etc.' Many of them have been directly 'threatened by security agencies or media close to the Revolutionary Guards such as Fars News,' and in some cases, the families of these journalists in Iran have been 'summoned and interrogated.' The harassment and intimidation of the families of staff at Persian-language media based abroad, such as Radio Farda, have a history, including during the presidential elections of 2013 and the months following, to the extent that Radio Free Europe - Radio Liberty condemned this action of the Iranian government in a statement. Reporters Without Borders has named Iran as one of the five largest prisons in the world for media activists, with 37 imprisoned journalists and citizen reporters. In this context, Bahman Darolshafaei has been released on bail from Evin Prison. Reporters Without Borders: Eisa Saharkhiz's life is in danger. Human Rights Watch: Security forces are the main perpetrators of human rights violations in Iran. Reporters Without Borders criticizes the situation of imprisoned journalists in Iran. Iran was the 'third largest prison' in the world for journalists in 2015.