Iran cuts off foreign press
posted at 12:12 pm on June 16, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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The Iranian mullahcracy has clamped down on foreign reporters while they struggle to contain widespread unrest following a botched national election. The BBC reports that journalists now have to ask permission before leaving their offices to cover anything, and that the government has barred them from covering any unauthorized demonstrations:
Authorities in Iran have announced sweeping new restrictions on foreign media, effectively confining journalists to their offices. …
The new restrictions on foreign media require journalists to obtain explicit permission before leaving the office to cover any story.
Journalists have also been banned from attending or reporting on any “unauthorised” demonstration – and it is unclear which if any of the protests are formally authorised.
Press cards have been declared invalid.
Allahpundit has done yeoman work keeping up with Twitter communications inside Iran, one of the few independent channels for updates on the Iranian regime’s actions at the moment. (Follow him on Twitter here.) The mullahs have tried to disrupt Twitter by either attempting to trace the members sending updates, shutting down proxies, or sending disinformation themselves on the network. They understand that the regime has lost a lot of credibility, and that the more images and reports come out about the uprising, the bigger it will get.
The mullahs say that those who died during the protests met their deaths at the hands of “thugs”. Here’s a video of the thugs in action:
This is why the foreign media have been confined to quarters.
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Oh no! Its Iran’s very own Abu Ghraib photogate!
BobMbx on June 16, 2009 at 12:14 PM
more common ground with fellow muslim obamee
bluegrass on June 16, 2009 at 12:15 PM
ABC cut off dissidents as well on it’s network.
Iran is just leading the cultural revolution here.
lorien1973 on June 16, 2009 at 12:16 PM
Is this a preview of USA 2012?
faraway on June 16, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Ooooh! Where is the love??? Obama now has a big prize for a cooperative Iminadinnerjacket. How to get the press on his side. Maybe ABC can have first dibs!!!
Bob in VA on June 16, 2009 at 12:17 PM
oboobi controls our press, what’s the difference
SHARPTOOTH on June 16, 2009 at 12:18 PM
I cut off the media long ago too.
44Magnum on June 16, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Meanwhile in the US the Obama administration has taken the first steps to a takeover of ABC
oldernwiser on June 16, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Funny, Obama cuts of domestic press that doesn’t agree with him….ABC News.
angryed on June 16, 2009 at 12:18 PM
May Iran be wiped off the map and replaced by the Republic of Persia.
WashJeff on June 16, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Why bother? The Washington Post is already running op-eds claiming Ahmadinejad won fair and square. (Which Nate Silver rebutted.) You can’t pay for that kind of PR.
Think of how we would see this revolution if it wasn’t for the Internet bringing these videos and images directly to our eyes… it would be just another blurb buried on page A3.
Siobhan on June 16, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Recall that Beijing kicked out all reporters shortly before the Tienanmen Square massacre.
If they’re going to really crackdown, that’s what they’ll do. My guess that this is an interim measure.
Does anyone know whether there are protests in other cities or, more important, the rural areas.
SteveMG on June 16, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Let’s sit down with these buffoons unconditionally and hand over some plans for nuclear reactors, what could go wrong?
hip shot on June 16, 2009 at 12:20 PM
Coming soon to the good old USA, courtesy of O’bama and Soros.
Del Dolemonte on June 16, 2009 at 12:20 PM
WashJeff on June 16, 2009 at 12:18 PM
by who?
SHARPTOOTH on June 16, 2009 at 12:20 PM
sorry to go OT, but this is too rich with irony to ignore
Palis Attempt To Assasinate Jimmah Carter
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1244371114626
But let’s take them off the terror watch list anyway. Sheesh. What a maroon.
DrW on June 16, 2009 at 12:21 PM
When will Obama seize the NY Times and Boston Globe?
faraway on June 16, 2009 at 12:21 PM
how is this any different from ABC New broadcasting Comrade Obama’s health Commercial???? And NOT allowing any alternative opinion or even questions not from the stooges in the audience….
We need to start taking to the strees too I am afraid….
SDarchitect on June 16, 2009 at 12:21 PM
ABC’s non-response response to RNC letter demanding equal time.
JiangxiDad on June 16, 2009 at 12:21 PM
Hey, how about starting those talks without pre-conditions with Iran now?
ieplaya on June 16, 2009 at 12:22 PM
I call this the Letterman Doctrine
faraway on June 16, 2009 at 12:22 PM
classic.. Iranian rioting reports…in hebrew lol
saus on June 16, 2009 at 12:22 PM
Foreign (AMerican) press response:
“Iran? SOmething going on there? We just care about white house swwwwiiiiing seetttttsss!!!”
battleoflepanto1571 on June 16, 2009 at 12:22 PM
sorry to go OT, but this is too rich with irony to ignore
Palis Attempt To Assasinate Jimmah Carter
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1244371114626
But let’s take them off the terror watch list anyway. Sheesh. What a maroon.
DrW on June 16, 2009 at 12:21 PM
oh well, you reap what you sow.
SHARPTOOTH on June 16, 2009 at 12:23 PM
oopsi that’s sew
SHARPTOOTH on June 16, 2009 at 12:24 PM
Obama would be wise to take a long hard look at what happens to ordinary citizens when their rights get taken away by the government.
chromium on June 16, 2009 at 12:24 PM
I’m not quite sure why anybody is shocked about this. One of the advantages of a repressive government is you get to control the press. Obama will be doing much of the same thing in 2012 though he has the advantage of the domestic and international press actually being the propaganda arm of his regime.
The fact of the matter, however, is that Iran has already lost the information containment war thanks to things like Twitter (I can’t believe I’m saying that). Quarantining the foreign press doesn’t do anything make make them look more desperate and guilty than they might actually be.
highhopes on June 16, 2009 at 12:25 PM
By their own citizens. I am not talking about how the theocrats want to wipe Israel off the map. Just dispose this government and the Persians return to their roots.
WashJeff on June 16, 2009 at 12:25 PM
I just put a channel block on ABC on all TVs in my house. I think I forgot the password too.
hip shot on June 16, 2009 at 12:25 PM
Oh, thank god. I thought the headline was Iran cuts off foreign pets.
Nevermind, the puppy is fine!
LibTired on June 16, 2009 at 12:28 PM
He’d probably view it as a feature, not a bug.
lorien1973 on June 16, 2009 at 12:28 PM
Dastardly deeds,done in the dark,doesn’t mean,the dastardly deeds aren’t being done.
midlander on June 16, 2009 at 12:31 PM
By their own citizens. I am not talking about how the theocrats want to wipe Israel off the map. Just dispose this government and the Persians return to their roots.
WashJeff on June 16, 2009 at 12:25 PM
do you think that will change there desire for nukes? if not, were back to sqiare one..
SHARPTOOTH on June 16, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Obama will learn from this – he will control Twitter too.
faraway on June 16, 2009 at 12:31 PM
You had it right the first time.
LibTired on June 16, 2009 at 12:31 PM
It’s Iran’s Fairness Doctrine.
petefrt on June 16, 2009 at 12:32 PM
You had it right the first time.
LibTired on June 16, 2009 at 12:31 PM
was’nt sure, thanx
SHARPTOOTH on June 16, 2009 at 12:33 PM
LOL
cmsinaz on June 16, 2009 at 12:33 PM
As compared to…?
Upstater85 on June 16, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Ed,
You should link that article you posted on Twitter earlier, the one that gave tips such as changing your Twitter location/time zone to Iran, redacting Twitter names in RTs, etc.
It's Vintage, Duh on June 16, 2009 at 12:38 PM
From the Belmont Club. Some background on the IRGC.
http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2009/06/16/the-moving-finger-writes/
a capella on June 16, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Domestic Network News, (ABC, NBC, CBS) is too busy sniffing Omama to worry about reporting on anything world wide.
Jeff from WI on June 16, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Obama is weak and ineffectual. He fails again.
THIS IS WAY BEYOND HIS PAY GRADE.
Geochelone on June 16, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Hey, we don’t know his motives… he may have succeeded… especially if he wanted the students to fail.
Upstater85 on June 16, 2009 at 12:43 PM
We stand with the Iranian people, even if our President doesn’t. Revolution only needs a spark…the tinder has been in place for years.
frode on June 16, 2009 at 12:43 PM
OK, you’ve tried to disrupt things. Go back to DKos or DU now.
SteveMG on June 16, 2009 at 12:47 PM
The way Fox was reporting the Carter story this a.m. was as if Hamas had saved him and the Israelis might have planted the roadside bombs because they kept emphasizing there were located near the border.
Meanwhile, 66% of Americans are thinking Manchild is acting very Manchildish regarding Iran! COOL!
freeus on June 16, 2009 at 12:48 PM
What do the Mullahs have in common with democrats?
Thugs used for intimidation in elections.
Silencing of dissent.
Police crackdown on free speech.
Scrappy on June 16, 2009 at 12:49 PM
I am truly fascinated with the use of Twitter for this news story. The amount of tweets on the topic per minute is astonishing. What an amazing age of information we live in. Uniting the world in ways I never thought possibly.
As for Iran blocking foreign media…I’m SHOCKED! SHOCKED, I tell you. /sarc
jennifernaz on June 16, 2009 at 12:50 PM
I sure hate to cite these guys, but when both WorldNetDaily and Mother Jones wonder the same thing about a bill, then the question is truely bipartisan: Should we let one guy control what we hear?
And of course, we’re seeing why this is relevant right now in Iran.
It is one thing for the MSM to ignore a story: They’ve shown their bias for long enough for me to expect it. The alternate media (primarily talk radio and the intertubes) are also biased (in our favor), but the truth can generally be found somewhere between the two sides.
But when the .gov is telling you to ignore a story, that is another thing all together. If Iran is shutting down their media to control their populace, should we give Obama the tools to do the same here?
azlibertarian on June 16, 2009 at 12:53 PM
I think it was meant as a warning, not a threat.
JiangxiDad on June 16, 2009 at 12:54 PM
This struck me as well. Eye witness accounts coming over at top speed before the mainstream outlets had even mentioned the story.
BakerAllie on June 16, 2009 at 12:55 PM
Dear Leader doesn’t have to take over the MSM. They willingly went over to being the State Run Media.
rbj on June 16, 2009 at 12:58 PM
I may have to dust off my old crystal set.
OldEnglish on June 16, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Here’s it is.
Anna on June 16, 2009 at 1:00 PM
4 real. Yeah Twitter’s like some interesting hybrid produced by mating a shortwave radio and a party line phone :)
JiangxiDad on June 16, 2009 at 1:01 PM
Can they cut off our “press” and who would notice the difference?
NoDonkey on June 16, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Maybe; but if you read his/her other posts, they’re little more than just stinkbombs tossed into the conversation.
Classic signs, for me, of a Moby trying to rile things up.
SteveMG on June 16, 2009 at 1:06 PM
+1
I feel ur pain, tho, Steve. I’ve don’t that a number of times to thread posters here. lol At least we’re passionate about it. :]
bluelightbrigade on June 16, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Hamas said it foiled an attempt by Palestinian terrorists to assassinate former US president Jimmy Carter during his visit to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Palestinian sources told news agencies.
Yikes that’s “Onion worthy.”
Brat on June 16, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Oh, didn’t know who the orig. commenter was. In that case, burn him! :)
JiangxiDad on June 16, 2009 at 1:12 PM
Imagine that!
LSUMama on June 16, 2009 at 1:14 PM
LOLOL So Hamas thinks they did us a favor how?
Jeff from WI on June 16, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Since ABC is going to be broadcasting from the “Blue Room” in the White House, will all the other Networks be shut out?
Similarities? Irony, thy name is Obama.
PappaMac on June 16, 2009 at 1:16 PM
When The One’s brownshirt “domestic homeland security” thugs start pummeling citizens in the street, his admininstration won’t need to crack down on the press. They’re already self-muzzled.
guntotinglibertarian on June 16, 2009 at 1:22 PM
Well, at least until our dictator shuts down independent news operations in the name of saving the commercial news industry and consolidates operations under a state-run umbrella with yet another unelected/unconfirmed czar who is loyal to the dictator and willing to run the propaganda efforts.
highhopes on June 16, 2009 at 1:24 PM
They’ll shut out the UK and Pravda press. They’re the only ones with the guts to call it like it is. Irony of ironies re: Pravda.
Daggett on June 16, 2009 at 1:25 PM
***
The video just shows “user friendly” non violent crowd control tactics. None of the environmentally bad tear gas or water cannons were used.
***
But just wait until the Iranian security forces get really nasty and bring out the fearsome WOMAN’S PANTIES ON THE HEAD TORTURE. The rioters will be begging for death instead.
***
John Bibb
***
rocketman on June 16, 2009 at 1:25 PM
Those are domestic homeland security “deputy czars.” Dictators like Obama don’t like being quite that overt in their tyranny.
highhopes on June 16, 2009 at 1:26 PM
Breaking: They released a bunch of caterpillars to disperse the crowd.
Daggett on June 16, 2009 at 1:29 PM
You’re right. Waterboarding is far worse than the kind of stuff seen in these videos… /eyeroll
Scrappy on June 16, 2009 at 1:29 PM
+100
Upstater85 on June 16, 2009 at 1:30 PM
I’m a witch! :)
faraway on June 16, 2009 at 1:36 PM
Katie Couric is flying to Tehran to do the network news tonight topless. She figures the fact that there’s a civil war there and the topless bit she can pick up at least 25 very old men with vision problems to tune in for a ratings bump.
Jeff from WI on June 16, 2009 at 1:38 PM
It could never happen here. If so, you would see crazy, improbable things on Drudge like “ABC TURNS PROGRAMMING OVER TO OBAMA” or “Obama blocks access to visitor lists” or “Obama seeks to give government new powers to seize key companies”.
faraway on June 16, 2009 at 1:40 PM
Maybe our brilliant Sec.of State Hillary Clinton could fly in with one of those RE-SET BUTTONS and we could all try again…this time with more feeling.
HumblyRight on June 16, 2009 at 1:53 PM
May Iran be wiped off the map and replaced by the Persian Empire.
Friendly21 on June 16, 2009 at 3:42 PM
i remember when, pre-Iraq war, the Fox News foreign correspondent would broadcast from Baghdad. i thought “what a total liar & jerk”. duh, he couldn’t tell the truth. oh yeah, greg palkot. he was so damned relieved when he could speak freely.
kelley in virginia on June 16, 2009 at 3:53 PM
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