Freedom of the press Human rights in Iran

in freedom house s 2013 press freedom survey, iran ranked not free , , among world’s 8 worst-rated countries (coming in 5th out of 196). according reporters without borders press freedom index 2013, iran ranked 174th out of 179 nations. according international press institute , reporters without borders, government of mahmoud ahmadinejad , supreme national security council had imprisoned 50 journalists in 2007 , had eliminated press freedom. rwb has dubbed iran middle east s biggest prison journalists. 85 newspapers, including 41 dailies, shut down 2000 end of 2002 following passing of april 2000 press law. in 2003, number 100. there 45 journalists in prison number surpassed turkey 49. red lines of press censorship in iran said questioning rule clerics (velayat-e faqih) , direct attacks on supreme leader. red lines have drawn against writing insults islam, sexually explicit, politically subversive, or allegedly confusing public opinion.

journalists warned or summoned if perceived critical of government, , topics such u.s. relations , country s nuclear program forbidden subjects reporting.

in february 2008, journalist yaghoob mirnehad sentenced death on charges of membership in terrorist jundallah group crimes against national security. mirnehad executed on 5 july 2008.

in november 2007, freelance journalist adnan hassanpour received death sentence undermining national security, spying, separatist propaganda , being mohareb (fighter against god). refused sign confessions, , theorized arrested work us-funded radio stations radio farda , voice of america. hassanpour s sentence overturned on 4 september 2008, tehran supreme court. hassanpour still faces espionage charges.

in june 2008, iranian ministry of labor stated 4,000 member journalists union, founded in 1997, fit dissolution.

human rights blogger , u.s. national press club honoree kouhyar goudarzi has twice been arrested reporting, on 31 july 2011. in detention, , whereabouts unknown. following second arrest, amnesty international named him prisoner of conscience.