Editing Freedom of the press (section)

====Iran====
According to the reports of the RSF in 2007, the freedom of Press in Iran ranked 166 among 169 states. The report reads the Iranian journalists face the "extreme harsh behavior of the Iranian regime that prevents them criticizing authorities or expressing political and social demands.<ref>{{cite web |title=Country of origin information report Iran |url=https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2013/06/12/iran050407.pdf |website=www.justice.gov |date=2007-05-04 |access-date=2020-09-08 |archive-date=2021-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718122811/https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/eoir/legacy/2013/06/12/iran050407.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

After a [[Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752| Ukrainian airliner was shot down]] in 2020 by the [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps]], agents of the [[Iranian Ministry of Intelligence]] raided the houses and offices of many Iranian journalists seeking for their PCs, cell phones, books, and documents. These journalists had revealed the lies of the Iranian regime. Some of the journalists received warnings by the authorities and were forced to shut down their accounts in Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.<ref>{{cite news |title=Reporters Without Borders: Iranian Journalists Are Victims Of Jet Crash Lies |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/reporters-without-borders-iranian-journalists-are-victims-of-jet-crash-lies-/30421140.html |last = <!-- not stated -->|website=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |date=2020-02-06 |access-date=2020-09-05 |archive-date=2020-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905025141/https://www.rferl.org/a/reporters-without-borders-iranian-journalists-are-victims-of-jet-crash-lies-/30421140.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Demanding promotion of the global Freedom of Media, in December 1993, UNESCO called the 3rd of April as "International day for Freedom of Media". This is while the RSF reported at least 860 journalists have been detained and imprisoned from 1979 to 2009 in Iran.<ref>{{cite news |title=روز آزادی مطبوعات؛ ایران جزو پنج زندان بزرگ روزنامه‌نگاران |url=https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2-%D8%A2%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AC%D8%B2%D9%88-%D9%BE%D9%86%D8%AC-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B2%D8%B1%DA%AF-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/a-18423206 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]]|date=2015-05-02 |last=شجاعی|first=میترا |language=fa |access-date=2020-11-09 |archive-date=2020-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110042029/https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2-%D8%A2%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AC%D8%B2%D9%88-%D9%BE%D9%86%D8%AC-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%B2%D8%B1%DA%AF-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/a-18423206 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On April 21, 2020, [[Paris]]-based [[Reporters Without Borders]] (RSF) said in its annual press [[freedom]] rankings that the pandemic was "highlighting many crises" already casting a shadow on [[press freedom]], around the world, with authoritarian states including Iran suppressing details of the outbreak.<ref name="Amplifies">{{cite news |title=Coronavirus pandemic 'amplifies press freedom threats' |url=https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-pandemic-amplifies-press-freedom-threats-040853085.html |agency=AFP |date=April 21, 2020 |access-date=May 3, 2020 |archive-date=2020-05-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508055600/https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-pandemic-amplifies-press-freedom-threats-040853085.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

RSF accused Iran—in 173rd place—of censoring major coronavirus outbreaks.<ref name="Amplifies" />

On the occasion of [[World Press Freedom Day]] in 2020, the [[Writers' Association of Iran]] released a statement emphasizing the existence of censorship and violation of freedom of speech and its destructive impacts on the structure and vital foundation of the society. It noted that during the past decades, the rulers in the country imprisoned more than 890 journalists and reporters, some of whom have been executed. The Iranian Writer Association expressed its regret, when Iran ranked 173 among 180 states due to freedom of speech.<ref>{{cite news |title=بیانیه کانون نویسنگان ایران به مناسبت روز جهانی آزادی مطبوعات |url=https://www.hra-news.org/statements/a-479/ |language=fa |website=Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) |date=2020-05-03 |access-date=2020-08-30 |archive-date=2020-08-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817010335/https://www.hra-news.org/statements/a-479/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 7 February 2020, the International Federation of Journalists in a statement condemned "raiding of Iranian Security Forces upon the houses of six Iranian journalists, holding the forces of "IRGC's Intelligence" responsible for recent pressures on the journalists. The secretary-general of the federation, Anthony Blunker, said that intimidating and threatening journalists are unpleasant tools to silence the public opinion of the administration.<ref>{{cite news |title=ادامه انتقاد نهادهای بین‌المللی نسبت به موج تازه‌ فشارها علیه روزنامه‌نگاران ایران |language=fa |url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-51424918 |website=BBC |date=2020-02-08 |access-date=2020-08-31 |archive-date=2020-08-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831060613/https://www.bbc.com/persian/iran-51424918 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On November 26, 2019, the RSF condemned the pressure on families of reporters by the Iranian regime, saying Iran ranked 170 among 180 states regarding Freedom of Press in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=گزارشگران بدون مرز: سفیر ایران در لندن تهدیدی علیه رسانه‌ها و روزنامه‌نگاران است |url=https://www.radiofarda.com/a/rfs_statment_iran_harrasment_journalists_iranian_abroad/30293459.html |website=[[Radio Farda]] |date=2019-11-26 |language=fa |access-date=2020-09-28 |archive-date=2019-11-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130220157/https://www.radiofarda.com/a/rfs_statment_iran_harrasment_journalists_iranian_abroad/30293459.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In its 2019 annual report, the Committee to Protect Journalists found at least 250 journalists in jail in relation to their work and stated that the number of imprisoned journalists in Iran was 11, citing the crackdown on protests by the Iranian people over rising gasoline prices. The report named Eritrea, Vietnam and Iran as "the worst prisons for journalists" after China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.<ref>{{cite web |title=China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt are world's worst jailers of journalists |url=https://cpj.org/reports/2019/12/journalists-jailed-china-turkey-saudi-arabia-egypt/ |last=Beiser |first=Elana |date=2019-12-11 |website=[[Committee to Protect Journalists|CPJ]] |access-date=2020-09-04 |archive-date=2020-08-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200831164308/https://cpj.org/reports/2019/12/journalists-jailed-china-turkey-saudi-arabia-egypt/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=کمیته حمایت از روزنامه‌نگاران: ۲۵۰ روزنامه‌نگار در جهان زندانی هستند |url=https://www.bbc.com/persian/world-50746161 |website=BBC |date=2019-12-11 |language=fa|access-date=2020-09-04 |archive-date=2020-09-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200904073225/https://www.bbc.com/persian/world-50746161 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On September 8, 2020, Reporters Without Borders expressed concern about the continuing detention and repression of journalists in Iran and warned for the journalists and Reporters who have been arrested for their activities and subjected to harassment. "The [[Human Rights Council]] must take more serious action to protect and defend journalists", said an official.<ref>{{cite news |title=خبرنگاران بدون مرز: سرکوب روزنامه‌نگاران ایران تشدید شده است |url=https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%B2-%D8%B3%D8%B1%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%A8-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B4%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA/a-54858009 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |date=2020-09-08 |language=fa|access-date=2020-09-09 |archive-date=2020-09-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909082720/https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%B2-%D8%B3%D8%B1%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%A8-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%B4%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA/a-54858009/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On Monday, November 9, 2020, Ralf Nestmeyer, vice president of [[PEN International|PEN]] Germany, referred to the repressive methods of authoritarian regimes: "Freedom of expression has declined in many parts of the world". He added that dictatorial regimes respond to any criticism with violence and imprisonment.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}} This year the World Pen Association (Pen), will concentrate on the fate of writers in Iran, China, Turkey, Peru and Uganda.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iran: Writers Baktash Abtin, Reza Khandan-Mahabadi and Keyvan Bazhan Imprisoned |url=https://pen-international.org/news/iran-writers-baktash-abtin-reza-khandan-mahabadi-and-keyvan-bazhan-imprisoned |website=[[PEN International]] |last= <!-- not stated -->|date=2020-10-30 |access-date=2020-11-24 |archive-date=2021-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202211636/https://pen-international.org/news/iran-writers-baktash-abtin-reza-khandan-mahabadi-and-keyvan-bazhan-imprisoned |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=March 2025|reason=This statement makes no mention of the organization focusing on writers in various countries.}}

[[Human Rights Watch]] condemned the punishment of the [[death penalty]] and demanded that it be prevented at all costs, following the December 12 execution of an Iranian dissident on vague charges. Rouhallah Zam, the founder of Telegram channel [[Amadnews]], was allegedly detained when he was visiting Iran in October 2019. He was deported forcibly to Iran and convicted of vague national security charges, as per Human Rights Watch. Zam faced trial for his ‘activism’ after being deported to Iran. The Iranian Supreme Court confirmed his verdict on December 8 and the journalist was executed on December 12.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/12/iran-dissident-executed-vague-charges|title=Iran: Dissident Executed on Vague Charges|access-date=12 December 2020|website=Human Rights Watch|date=12 December 2020|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212214942/https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/12/12/iran-dissident-executed-vague-charges|url-status=live}}</ref>