Latest posts by Mahsa Alimardani
Homeless People Outside Tehran Are Taking Refuge in Empty Graves
Images of homeless people in Iran taking refuge in empty graves outside Tehran have been sweeping Persian social media.
Open Letter From Diaspora Iranians to Trump Causes Upset Inside Iran
"Don't recognize 25 of the 30 names who wrote to #Trump to bash Obama & #Iran Deal. Fox News calls them 'Influential Iranians dissidents'"
The Thin Line Between Political Censorship and Fighting Fake News in Iran
Iran wants to regulate social-media news accounts with more than 5,000 followers because of the dangers of fake news. But what about the danger to free speech?
Talking to Hooman Majd, a Bridge Between Iran and the US Mainstream
"Iran is not uniquely paradoxical: what's unique is that most people don’t know about Iran."
Smog Engulfs Tehran—Again
Iran's capital is under its annual smog warning, and hardliners are claiming the failed Rouhani administration are slowly killing its citizens.
Iran Is Poised to Limit Press Freedom Even More Than It Already Does
The government of President Rouhani is preparing two bills that media experts and journalists say could further erode press freedom and freedom of expression in Iran.
Hello Vodafone: What Does It Mean When a Global Telco Giant Enters Iran?
Vodafone's partnership with an Iranian telco is a welcome improvement to the local telecommunications market. But the potential for complicity between Vodafone and Iran's surveillance infrastructure is hard to ignore.
Reality, Conspiracy and the US ‘Internet Freedom’ Agenda: Deconstructing Iran's Case Against Nizar Zakka
Nizar Zakka, a Lebanese citizen was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison by Iranian for leading U.S. funded projects in Iran. We deconstruct this situation.
Help End the Imprisonment of Iranian Web Developer Saeed Malekpour
Saeed Malekpour was arrested and jailed in 2008 over someone else's use of his open source code to upload pornographic material to the Internet.
An Iranian-Canadian Academic Is Released, but Iran's Crackdown on Women's Rights Activists Continues
Efforts to increase women's participation in February's parliamentary elections were met with a campaign of repression from hardline institutions in Iran.
Jailed Iranian Nuclear Scientist Tweets About His New Conditional Freedom
After five years of imprisonment, Twitter -- the online platform that led his freedom campaign -- was how nuclear scientist Omid Kokabee first communicated with the world after his release.
Iran Declares ‘Unveiling’ of Its National Intranet
Iran declared a grand "unveiling" of its national internet. But what's really new here? We analyze the project and the government performance around its so-called "unveiling".
PokéStops or Stopping Poké? Iran Reacts to the Pokémon Go Phenomenon
How has one of the most restricted Internet environments, with censors on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, reacted to Pokémon Go?
Ayatollah Khomeini Died 27 Years Ago, But a Trump Advisor Still Wants Him to Condemn Last Week's Attack in Nice
Appearing on Fox News, Flynn said, “I want the Imam, or Khomeini, to stand up and be counted and to talk about this radical form of ideology in their bloodstream."
Iranian Hardliners Want to Stop Blocking Twitter — to Defeat Saudi Propaganda
Iranian hardliners, typically champions of Internet censorship, are calling on the government to stop blocking Twitter in order to counter Saudi Arabian propaganda against Iran.
Goodbye to Abbas Kiarostami, a Filmmaking Legend Whose Vision ‘Transversed His Persian Roots’
Iranian cinematic legend Abbas Kiarostami died after a battle with cancer. We asked some of his fans to share their favourite scenes from the filmmaker's body of work.
Iranian Blogger Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki Freed on Bail
"With every departure there is a return. Even when weak and ill we must stand and smile. We must go on..." writes Hossein Ronaghi-Maleki.
The Iranian Physicist Jailed for Refusing to Work on Nukes Is Dying Behind Bars
For a brief moment on April 21, world attention shifted to the physicist who's spent the past five years in prison for refusing to work on Iran's nuclear program.
Iranian Journalist Omid Memarian: ‘Turning Explosive Anger Into Something Constructive Is an Art’
"In Iran, you don’t need to go after the authorities to get into trouble. By merely following the common sense line and raising simple questions you could be targeted."
Iranian Blogger Struggles for Health and Freedom After 18 Days on Hunger Strike
Anti-censorship activist and blogger Hossein Ronaghi Maleki has been on hunger strike since March 26, and his health is deteriorating rapidly.
After Revealing Workplace Sexual Harassment, an Iranian Newscaster Says It's ‘Time to Break Free’
Sheen Shirani has reportedly fled the country after posting evidence on Facebook that her bosses sexually harassed her. The case highlights the precariousness of women's roles in Iran's professional settings.