NCRI – On the eve of sham presidential elections, suppression apparatus of mullahs’ regime arrested a number of journalist from media outlet mostly affiliated to the rival factions including Shargh, Arman, Baha, Etemad dailies and ILNA news agency and Aseman weekly.
The state-run Fars news agency affiliated to the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) stated “The reason for arrest of these individuals” as collaborating with “Farsi language media outlets belonging to the anti-revolutionaries.”.
Tabnak website, belonging to a former commander of IRGC, was also shut down by Tehran’s public prosecutor on the charge of “issuing insulting opinions”.
Crackdown on media taking place within the context of mullahs’ law is an indicatition of regime’s fear of public discontent turning to street uprisings. Therefore, Ali Khamenei, the regime’s Supreme Leader is seeking to get rid of all rivals faction within the power structure to solidify its authority. This move also demonstrates the regime’s vulnerability more than ever such that cannot tolerate any voices of rival factions.
Mullahs’ regime has time and again been described by international organizations and bodies as the “the world biggest prison for journalists” or “the biggest prison for journalists in the middle east”.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran
January 29, 2013
