I am a Europe based Iranian journalist, blogger, and researcher. I joined Global Voices in summer 2005 and I used farid pouya and hamid tehrani as nicknames. I was the Iran editor of GlobaI Voices from May 2006 to January 2015. I have also been involved with several digital projects such as Digiactive and March 18 Movement [Think Social award 2009]. I co-edited and co-wrote “Hope, Votes and Bullets” book about Iran's protest movement and social media. For about 9 years I had been the Online Editor in Chief of Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty's Persian service (Radio Farda) in Prague. Twitter: @fredpetrossian
Latest posts by Fred Petrossian
Iranian Women – Saying ‘No’ to Compulsory Hijabs Since 1979
More than 26,000 people have joined a Facebook campaign by Iranian students calling for an end to mandatory headscarves (hijabs) in Iran. Iranian women have protested for three decades, but are still subjected to harassment by security forces in public.
Iran: Tehran's Non-Declared Curfew Amid NAM Summit
The 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement started amid heavy security presence in Tehran, August 26, 2012. The 120-nation Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), a holdover from the Cold War's pull between East and West, is also seen by Iran and others as an alternative forum for current world discussions. Iran says it has planned talks on a peace plan to end Syria's civil war, but no rebel factions will attend because of Tehran's close bonds with Bashar Assad's regime.
Iran: Blogger Arrested in Earthquake Zone
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki, an Iranian blogger, his father and several volunteers who had gone to East Azarbaijan province to help earthquake‘s victims were arrested [fa] by security forces last week. Hossein Ronaghi Maleki was previously released on a $500,000 bail in July 2012.
Iran: Opposition leader taken home from hospital
According to [fa] social media and news sites, leading Iranian opposition figure Mir Hossein Mousavi, returned home from hospital on Friday, August 24, 2012.
Belgium: Police Violence
Here is a video showing police in Brussels arresting a drunk man who was beating a woman, before they then start to beat him. A person in the neighborhood filmed the incident.
Iran: Detained Green Movement Leader Moved to Hospital
Mir Hossein Mousavi, a key Iranian Green Movement leader, who was a reformist candidate in the 2009 presidential elections and eventually the leader of the opposition in the post-election unrest, has been moved to the hospital for "heart problem." Mousavi has been under house arrest for about 520 days.
Iran, Israel: ‘Not Ready to Die in Your War’
From mainstream news headlines it seems Iran and Israel are on the edge of war. Israeli politicians continue to threaten attacking Iranian nuclear facilities and Iranian authorities recite their old slogans that Israel will 'disappear from the map.' But as the noise of war rises from both sides, so does activism for peace.
Iran: Mourning for earthquake's victims
A video film was posted in You Tube where a series of earthquakes’ photos are exposed and people are invited to stop all activities in all places including economic, educational and trade centers on Thursday, 16th of August.Two earthquakes hit the northwest region in Iran, East Azarbaijan province on Saturday,...
Iran: Disparity between conservative opinion blogs
A report in Storify shows the disparity between conservative bloggers in Iran, from Ramadan to murder of Muslims in Myanmar.
Iran: When Earthquakes Kill, “TV Broadcasts Prayers”
Two powerful earthquakes hit the northwest region in Iran, East Azarbaijan province on Saturday, killing 250 people and injuring around 1,800. Iranians flocked to the Internet to mourn the victims and to appeal for blood donation and help. They also expressed their anger at the Iranian national TV, which broadcast religious programmes, instead of providing viewers with information about the earthquakes and how to help.
Iran: Celebrating ‘Historic’ Medals and Criticising the Referee
Iranians are celebrating their most memorable day in the history of the Olympics as their athletes won two gold and two silver medals. But one issue ruined the party: thousands of Iranians called Saeid Morad Abdvali's defeat in a wrestling match a conspiracy by the Olympic referee against Iran's World Champion.
Iran: Pro-Ahmadinejad Blogger Jailed
"What a world and judiciary we have, Ahmad was arrested just for writing and supporting his country's president" - Ahmad Shariat is behind bars. Other pro-Ahmadinejad bloggers have also been hounded by Tehran prosecutor’s office for criticizing associates of the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran: “If Bashar Gets Killed, the Iranian Regime Will Call Him a Martyr”
Iranian bloggers reacted with humour to the Syrian rebels attack in Damascus and the bomb blast that killed three top security chiefs in the Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's regime. Iran and Syria enjoy excellent relations and netizens have resorted to poking fun at how impacted the Iranian regime would be should Al Assad finds himself out of power, following the 16 month revolution raging in Syria.
Iran: Kaboudvand's life in danger
Several bloggers reported Mohammad Sadiq Kaboudvand‘s life is in danger.This Kurdish activist has been on hunger strike for several days. Alireza Rezai says [fa] Kabudvand's hunger strike did not get enough attention in Iranian media.
Iran: Is the State Afraid of a 13-Year Old Girl?
An Iranian security court created a stir recently by banning foreign travel for jailed human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh’s husband and their 13-year-old daughter, Mehraveh Khandan. Nasrin Stoudeh has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Iran: Who Can Catch a Chicken?
The price of chicken has jumped by more than 80 per cent in the last few months and it seems chicken prices will continue to soar out of people's reach. Shoppers have had to dish out 70,000 rials (US $5.60) for a kilogram of chicken, around three times last year's price.
Iran: A jailed blogger released on $500,000 bail
Human rights activists and social networking sites reported that Hossein Ronaghi Maleki released on $500,000 bail.
Iran: 13- year- old girl banned from travel abroad
Several bloggers and a leading human rights site reported[fa] Mehraveh a political prisoner's daughter banned from travel abroad. Mehraveh is 13 years old and her mother, Nasrin Stoudeh, is a jailed lawyer in Iran. A blogger has published her photo.
Iran: Alef, a conservative site was filtered
Alef [fa], a conservative site, was filtered.Alef belongs to Ahmad Tavakoli, a conservative MP who has criticized Iranian government's policy for several years. Several conservative sites supported [fa] Alef.
Iran: Lives of several imprisoned journalists and netizens in danger
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says lives of several imprisoned journalists and netizens are in danger in Iran.
Iran: Songs of Freedom
United4Iran, a non-profit organization campaigning for human rights in Iran has created an online music compilation designed to revive hope for freedom for Iranians.
