Featured stories about Iran
Stories about Iran
16 April 2019
Material Culture art exhibition communicates deep personal experiences to transcend cultural borders
The exhibition features the work of five Iran-born artists who use “nonrepresentational forms” and a range of materials to create a visual language that communicates deep personal experiences and transcends...
11 April 2019
3 April 2019
Government official says the ban on messaging apps is slowing flood relief in Iran
"In situations where sharing information is vital, censorship can turn into a deadly phenomenon."
12 February 2019
Iranian environmentalists fear death penalty after a year behind bars
Public prosecutors built much of their case against the group from a forced confession made by one of the activists.
31 December 2018
Censored in 2018: Protest videos, court verdicts, real news — and Peppa Pig
From blocked websites to revoked media licenses to account shutdowns, censorship comes in many forms. Here are a few we saw in 2018.
7 November 2018
A conversation with Nicky Nodjoumi on the power and politics of his art
"Choosing power as one of the main topics of my work is rooted in the desire to drag it down to the ground and make fun of it."
24 October 2018
In Iran, state-sanctioned messaging apps are the new hallmark of internet nationalization
Since they censored Telegram, Iranian officials have deployed aggressive measures in an effort to promote national messaging services.
14 October 2018
For these Iranian twin-sister artists, collaboration is “like one person working with her other self”
"'Reincarnation' implies a new life. If we can make the audience wake up and realize the world around them and see the beauty in it, it is a huge success."
6 August 2018
Iran’s telecommunications company illegally rerouted Telegram app traffic
In a new move aimed at tightening the state-imposed ban on the Telegram messaging app, the Telecommunications Company of Iran (TCI) temporarily rerouted Telegram app traffic in violation of domestic law in July 2018.
1 August 2018
Death of a 12-year-old boy lays bare the plight of Iran's Ahwazi minority
Meysam's suicide is the latest to afflict the Ahwazi Arab community, a minority population who live in Iran's oil-rich south who face hardship and discrimination by the country's authorities.
27 July 2018
From state censorship to western stereotypes, an interview with Iranian artist Maryam Palizgir
Maryam Palzigir's experience fought against both state censorship of artistic expression in Iran and now Western stereotypes of Iranians in the U.S.
11 July 2018
Iranian authorities arrest ‘Instagram celebrities’, in effort to assert control over social media
Iranian authorities announce plans to filter Instagram because of the evils of "Instagram celebrities". A few days later, the state broadcaster reveals the arrest of several "Instagram celebrities."
25 June 2018
Iranian lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh jailed on national security charges for representing hijab protesters
"If you ask me what the authorities are thinking deep inside, I will tell they just want Nasrin to sit at home and...and stop defending civil and political activists..."
12 June 2018
Telegram channel administrator could get death penalty for “insulting the Prophet”
Article 262 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code dictates that “Anyone who swears at or commits qazf [slander] against the Great Prophet [of Islam]...shall be sentenced to the death penalty.”
Iranian parody band sings a love song for Telegram after its block
"Just when I was relying on you, you were suddenly blocked and gone and all I have left is this VPN, that's the only bridge between you and I."
19 May 2018
Netizen Report: What do Iran, Pakistan and Russia have in common? They all ban Telegram.
The Advox Netizen Report offers an international snapshot of challenges, victories, and emerging trends in internet rights around the world.
25 April 2018
The chilling effect of officials discussing Telegram's imminent ban in Iran
Some officials say Telegram is set to be blocked at the end of April. Although the app remains technically unfiltered at the moment, usage among Iranians is down.
21 March 2018
On World Poetry Day, Some Verses Straight From Persia's Heart
"The sadness in my heart, like a mountain/The heart under your chest, like a stone."
16 March 2018
Iranian Detainees Face Privacy Violations, Public Smear Campaigns
Two cases in Iran highlight new signs of violations of due process and in how personal electronic devices are seized and the right to privacy is violated.
8 March 2018
Evidence Says Iran Throttled Telegram Connections After January Protests
User reports and various data suggests even after the Iranian government removed censorship on the popular messaging and social media platform, they were still slowing down speeds.
About our Iran coverage
Mahsa Alimardani is the Iran and Farsi editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
