Committee to Protect Bloggers In Trouble

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Committee to Protect Bloggers is an important blog about fellow bloggers in distress. You might remember them reporting on the death of Omid Reza Mir Sayafi some time ago, a matter we’ve covered as well. Unfortunately, one of the three founders, Curt Hopkins, is forced to step away due to being unemployed.

As much concern as I have for people I don’t know, far and away my most important commitment is to my wife and our family. From now until after I am re-employed, I cannot spend a single second on anything but my search for employment.

This is bad news, since Committee to Protect Bloggers is an important source for bloggers in distress all over the world. If you think you can help Hopkins in any way, be sure to let him know. It is also a reminder of how vulnerable a lot of the information online is, with no publishing houses or big companies to fall back on when the people behind them get in trouble.

Iran Intelligence Services Now Hunting Bloggers

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At least that is what Reporters Without Borders thinks, as well as journalists and others that don’t play along the Iranian rules online.

In the latest move, Tehran prosecutor general Said Mortazavi announced yesterday that the “special prosecutor’s department for Internet crimes” will henceforth work directly with the intelligence services.

They also adds:

The organisation added: “The creation of a special prosecutor’s department for Internet crimes is part of a broader project by the authorities designed not only to monitor online content but also to impose extremely severe sentences, including the death penalty, for Internet crimes. We deplore this department’s increased power, which is a formidable repressive tool and an excellent way to get people to censor themselves.”

Not too long ago, Iranian blogger Omid Reza Mir Sayafi died in prison, which makes this even more serious for people in Iran who doesn’t agree with the government. Hat tip: Committee to Protect Bloggers.

Iranian Blogger Death Follow-Up

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Huffington Post has an interesting piece up on Omid Reza Mir Sayafi’s death in an Iranian prison, written by an Iranian student (under a pseudonym of course). It brings some perspective, and springs from Sayafi’s writing, which is interesting of course. You can read his blog too, despite it being pulled offline, using the amazing Wayback machine.

Another interesting post on the topic is on Global Voices Online, about the Iranian online censorship. It puts things into perspective.

Iranian Blogger Dies In Prison

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Global Voices report the sad news that Iranian blogger Omid Reza Mir Sayafi has died in prison.

Omid Reza Mir Sayafi, who had been sentenced to 30 months prison for insulting Islamic Republic Leaders last month, died in prsion today. Human Rights Activists in Iran site says[fa] the reason for his death has not been announced but he was in very bad psychological condition.

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