Two days before the parliamentary elections in Iran, DW Director General has urged the government in Tehran to grant people access to information. “Internet censorship remains very common in Iran,” Limbourg said.
Access to the DW webpage in Farsi has been blocked since 2009. The circumvention software provided by DW has been accessible only irregularly since mid-January.
“Obviously the drastic encroachment on the freedom of the Internet is linked to the upcoming elections and DW’s extensive and balanced reporting,” Limbourg said.
On a special page in Farsi, DW offers information, analysis and opinions on the elections scheduled for next Friday.
Limbourg: “Blocking access to our Farsi website has led to a clear decrease in the number of page impressions in January in comparison to the month before. The Iranian government should become more transparent and end censorship.”
In the meantime DW would try to create alternative opportunities for entering the Internet, the director general said. Limbourg added that Iran would only thrive if people were allowed to speak out without fear of state repression.
“Young people especially depend on the Internet and social media as instruments for social dialogue and individual formation of opinion,” Limbourg said. (Source: DW press release)