The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned restrictions imposed by Iran’s judiciary on media coverage of European-triggered international sanctions imposed on Iran over the weekend.
“Iran's judiciary has announced it is monitoring media coverage of the newly reimposed sanctions and may take legal action against outlets it accuses of causing public unrest, citing concerns about ‘disturbing the public's psychological security,” CPJ Middle East and North Africa program director Sara Qudah said on X on Tuesday.
“Such broadly defined charges are part of a wider pattern by authorities to restrict free expression, discourage open debate and pressure journalists and others reporting on sensitive issues,” Qudah added.
The UN sanctions were initiated by France, Germany and Britain last month after they accused Iran of spurning diplomacy and inspections related to its disputed nuclear program.
Western countries and Israel suspect Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities in a charge denied by Iran, which calls the sanctions an illegal attempt at bullying.
They came into force on September 28 and include arms embargoes and banking restrictions set to deepen pain on the country's already febrile economy.
Last month, Iran’s intelligence ministry warned of potential consequences of the sanctions' return, including roiled markets, deeper unemployment and more profound popular discontent.
Iran’s judiciary has long used vague legal charges to prosecute journalists, who often face Islamic revolutionary courts and jailtime for reporting in the public interest.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Iran 176th out of 180 countries in its 2024 World Press Freedom Index, placing it among the world’s most repressive nations for media.
The ranking is consistent with previous years, with Iran repeatedly cited as one of the “five biggest prisons for journalists,” along with China, Myanmar, Turkey and Egypt.
