Sudden Blocking of ‘Ashkan News’ Website by Order of the General Prosecutor
The ‘Ashkan News’ website was suddenly blocked by order of the General Prosecutor of the country.
According to a human rights report in Iran, the General Prosecutor of the country, in an unexpected move without prior notification and without warning, issued an order to block the news website ‘Ashkan News’. This sudden removal signifies the absence of freedom of speech and rule of law.
This news site, under the editorship of ‘Hassan Abbasi’, recently published articles about violations in the Court of Accounts, Ports Organization, and Road Maintenance Organization in other provinces of the country, and by criticizing the performance of some government officials, had drawn public attention. Following the publication of these articles, suddenly and without any warning, summons, or conviction, the site was removed from users’ access in such a way as to bring the discussion of media freedom restrictions and censorship to the headlines of the news.
This news site had also published reports in recent months about administrative and economic corruption that had caused concerns for relevant institutions. The editor of this news media is recognized among journalists for exposing violations and financial corruption. According to statements by journalists and media activists, the blocking of this site is not unrelated to his recent revelations.
The blocking of this news website, without following legal procedures, led to a formal complaint being filed against this illegal filtering, also due to violations of citizens’ rights, freedom of speech, and abuse of power and disruption of business. Given that Ashkan News website had an official permit to operate and according to existing laws for the operation of news websites, any action against media should be carried out through legal and transparent procedures, yet the filtering of this media was ordered by the General Prosecutor without any prior warning or presentation of legal documentation for criminal content.
Many critics also responded to this blocking by stating: “Blocking media outlets is erasing the face of the problem, not solving it. This action not only undermines public confidence in media transparency and freedom, but can also have negative consequences in the media and social space of the country.”
Hassan Abbasi, the editor of this media outlet, also said: “Truth cannot be hidden behind a wall of censorship. A society that does not have access to free information remains in darkness.”
Media experts also stated: “This action, in addition to restricting the information space, opens the way for the spread of rumors and unofficial information. Independent media, criticism of power, and transparency for the public are essential, but when such media outlets are easily blocked, the question arises: does power not have the tolerance to accept criticism?”
Now, will the officials provide a transparent answer for this blocking, or will they, as always, resort to silence and suppression instead of a transparent response?
