New Arrests Target Journalists in Iran

A Reporters without Borders (RSF) report documents arrests of journalists and bloggers in Iran for the first three weeks of 2012. The report cites no fewer than 10 arrests since January 1 that have targeted not only journalists but bloggers and writers in the fields of history, art, culture and the social sciences.

The report quotes Intelligence minister Heydar Moslehi, who confirmed the arrests of journalists Fatemeh Khardmand, Ehssan Hoshmand and Saeed Madani on 7 January, saying they “envisaged carrying out American plans to disrupt the parliamentary elections by using cyber-space and social networks.” Charges of disseminating “anti-government propaganda,” a standard accusation made against dissidents and regime critics, were brought in numerous other cases.

RSF’s report is here.