Iran sentences eight youths to jail over Facebook postings
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 14 July 2014 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Iran sentences eight youths to jail over Facebook postings, 14 July 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/53ce30f2d.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
July 14, 2014
Access to social networks, including Twitter and Facebook, is routinely filtered by Iranian authorities, as is access to other websites considered un-Islamic or detrimental to the regime.
A revolutionary court in Iran has handed eight young people jail sentences of 11 to 21 years for antiregime posts on Facebook.
The official IRNA news agency reports that the eight, whose names were not given, were jailed for "acting against national security, antiregime propaganda, and insulting religious values and Iranian leaders."
Access to social networks, including Twitter and Facebook, is routinely filtered by Iranian authorities, as is access to other websites considered un-Islamic or detrimental to the regime.
President Hassan Rohani, a self-declared moderate, has promised greater tolerance on social, cultural, and media issues – a vow that helped him defeat conservatives in last year's election.
But his push has been opposed by traditionalists and ultra-conservatives who hold sway in the establishment and key institutions, including the judiciary.
Based on reporting by AFP and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
