Reporters Without Borders: Iran again "biggest prison for information professionals"
The organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has criticized the imprisonment of numerous journalists in Iran.
Iran has "once again become the biggest prison for information professionals", according to an SDA statement published by the organization in Paris on Wednesday. There are currently 42 journalists and "internet dissidents" in prison in Iran. Since the most recent mass demonstrations by the Iranian opposition on 27 December, an "organized crackdown" by the security forces has been underway against opposition members and media representatives. Around 20 Iranians, including twelve journalists and internet dissidents, have been arrested. It is "very worrying" that the highest dignitaries in Iran have called for the maximum penalty to be imposed on the imprisoned opposition members, RSF stated. The international community must urgently intervene to prevent a "drama" and possibly even the execution of political prisoners.
