Iranian rulers want to ‘break the pens’

Press freedom in Iran has changed significantly over the years. During the Pahlavi dynasty (1925-1979), the press experienced brief periods of flourishing, although political restrictions were always present. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, there was a brief phase of relative freedom. This ended abruptly with the new ruler Ayatollah Khomeini's order to ‘break the pens’.

Suppression of press freedom is widespread in Iran. A recent example is journalist Niloofar Hamedi. She was arrested for bringing out the news of Mahsa Amini's death by the morality police in 2022. As was Elaheh Mohammadi, who reported on Amini's funeral. February 11, 2025, they were pardoned by the regime.

In the first quarter of 2024, Iran imposed legal and other measures such as fines, forced land expulsions and professional bans on at least 91 journalists and media platforms (source: Defending Free Flow of Information Organisation). The regime sentenced 24 people - seven women and 17 men - to more than 14 years in prison. The May 2024 World Press Freedom Index places Iran at number 176. With a score of 21.3, the country is near the bottom of the list.

Rise of citizen journalism

I myself have also experienced repression. With all the restrictions on freedom of expression in Iran, film served as a medium for me to show reality and circumvent censorship. Upon the release of my short, socially critical film The Recess in 2020, I faced a media boycott and was under severe psychological pressure. Iranian media barely published about it after the boycott.

The authoritarian regime in Iran actively tries to manipulate the truth. It presents distorted and falsified events to the public through state news media, national television and radio stations. But many people use VPN to follow independent media. Several channels outside Iran serve as alternative news sources, including BBC Persian, IranWire, Radio Farda (the Persian-language branch of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty), Iran International, DW Persian, Euro News Persian and Radio Zamaneh (based in the Netherlands).

Media makers also find ways around censorship and restrictions. For instance, they raise taboos using metaphors and indirect ways of storytelling. In the 1990s and the 1990s, blogs in Iran provided a platform to share thoughts, often anonymously. The rise of digital media and citizen journalism complicates the government's attempts to suppress the truth. Many activists on social media (especially X) now oppose regime cyber agents. Numerous independent Instagram pages (including ‘Khan e Cinema’) and other online platforms spread news, aided by citizens sharing messages and videos.

This article previously appeared in 360 Magazine. It was produced in collaboration with Free Press Unlimited.

Photo via ANP/EPA