Introduction
September 28, the International Day for Universal Access to Information, was first recognized by UNESCO in 2015 and later by the UN General Assembly in 2019. This day emphasizes access to information as an inseparable part of freedom of expression and a foundation for an informed society. In stark contrast, the ruling regime in Iran systematically deprives its citizens of this right through organized censorship, broad internet filtering, shutdowns, and persecution of journalists.
Iran’s Global Standing in Freedom of Information
– According to the 2025 report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Iran ranks 176 out of 180 countries on the Press Freedom Index, ahead only of Syria, China, North Korea, and Eritrea.
– Iran is the second-largest jailer of journalists in the world, after China.
– In the digital sphere, Iran ranked 97 out of 100 countries in internet quality, a direct outcome of state-imposed filtering and restrictions.
Governmental Structure of Information Control
Control over digital space in Iran operates through a highly centralized governmental structure:
– The Supreme Council of Cyberspace, established in 2012 by Ali Khamenei, the regime’s Supreme Leader, serves as the main policymaking body.
– The Committee for Determining Instances of Criminal Content (established in 2009) functions as the executive arm of filtering, composed of representatives from all three branches of government. Despite lacking transparency, it frequently issues filtering decisions.
– In practice, even a single judicial prosecutor has the authority to block platforms—such as the 2018 ban on Telegram.
This system demonstrates that filtering in Iran is not a legal or transparent process but a political tool wielded by security institutions to enforce censorship.
Internet Shutdowns and Digital Apartheid
The regime has developed a discriminatory system known as the “National Internet,” where officials and state institutions enjoy unrestricted access while the majority of citizens are confined to a heavily filtered network.
– Tiered internet access grants unfiltered connectivity to select academics, state-aligned companies, and pro-regime media, while ordinary citizens are excluded.
– A Deputy Minister of ICT admitted Iran has “one of the most infected networks in the world,” and over 90% of young users rely on VPNs.
– In November 2019, nationwide internet shutdowns concealed the killing of hundreds of protesters. Amnesty International described this as “a blackout amid a bloodbath.” A similar pattern re-emerged during the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom protests and the 12-day war of 2023, when international connections were cut under the pretext of activating the National Internet.
Official admissions confirm these failures:
– MP Mehrdad Lahooti: “Filtering has solved nothing. Officials are connected for free, while citizens must pay.”
– Ali Rabiei, Social Affairs Advisor to the President: “I see no benefit in filtering… why waste one billion dollars of people’s money each year?”
Repression of Journalists and Media Workers
The regime’s information control extends to direct persecution of journalists.
– 2022 protests: At least 20 journalists and media activists were arrested in just two weeks after the killing of Mahsa Amini. Among them were Niloofar Hamedi (Shargh newspaper), Elaheh Mohammadi (Hammihan newspaper), and photojournalist Yalda Moayeri.
– 2025: Repression continues. Journalist and women’s rights activist Zhina Modares Gorji remains under harsh conditions in Sanandaj prison. In Golestan, Reza Mahmoudi Parsian, a journalist and tourism activist, faces judicial prosecution and constant security pressure.
Statistical Overview
According to the Defense for Free Flow of Information (DeFFI), in 2024 alone:
– At least 256 journalists and media outlets faced 385 cases of judicial or security action.
– 36 journalists were arrested, and sentences against 11 were enforced, amounting to 69 years and 10 months in prison, 110 lashes, and over 200 million toman in fines.
In early 2025, repression intensified, with at least 9 journalists arrested in January alone, marking a rise compared to the previous year. The charge of “spreading falsehoods” was the most common judicial tool, used 205 times in 2024 and 47 times in the first half of 2025. Other charges included “propaganda against the state” and “collusion against national security.”
A gendered dimension is evident: in several months of 2024, the number of imprisoned female journalists exceeded that of men. Of the five harshest sentences issued, three were against women, each receiving five-year prison terms.
Climate of Intimidation and Self-Censorship
Security agencies systematically deploy extralegal methods such as cutting SIM cards, blocking social media accounts without warrants, and issuing direct threats.
– Example: In April 2025, Iran’s Security Police issued “serious warnings” to journalists and users of the social media platform X for publishing critical content.
These actions create a permanent atmosphere of fear that forces both journalists and ordinary citizens into self-censorship.
Economic and Social Consequences
Censorship and filtering not only erode freedoms but also inflict heavy economic damage:
– Monthly losses from filtering in 2022 were estimated at 39.2 trillion tomans (Iran Chamber of Commerce).
– Over 415,000 businesses active on Instagram, worth more than 60 trillion tomans, were disrupted.
– Reports estimate daily losses from internet shutdowns at up to 1 trillion tomans.
The VPN Economy
Filtering has created a vast underground economy:
– Millions of users are forced to purchase VPNs.
– The unregulated market poses serious security risks.
– By restricting safe platforms, the regime drives users toward unsafe tools, exposing society to further harm.
Legal Analysis
The right to access information is enshrined in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which Iran ratified in 1975. Despite this commitment, the ruling regime continues to violate its obligations through systemic filtering, internet shutdowns, and the persecution of journalists. The UN Human Rights Committee’s General Comment No. 34 explicitly prohibits blocking communications during peaceful assemblies, yet the clerical regime has repeatedly imposed blackouts to suppress dissent and obstruct documentation of human rights violations.
Conclusion and Call to Action
September 28 serves as a reminder that access to information is an indivisible human right. In Iran, however, this right is systematically violated. The international community cannot remain silent.
We urge the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Special Rapporteurs on Freedom of Expression and on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran to:
– Condemn the regime’s use of internet shutdowns and repression of journalists.
– Impose targeted sanctions on responsible bodies, including the Supreme Council of Cyberspace and the Committee for Determining Instances of Criminal Content.
– Provide financial and technical support to civil society groups that promote digital security and fight censorship for Iranian citizens.
