Blogging in Iran A Brief History

Blogging in Iran has a rich and complex history that spans over two decades. It all started in the early 2000s, when the first Iranian blogs emerged, primarily as personal diaries and online journals.

These early blogs were often censored and monitored by the government, but they still managed to gain popularity among the Iranian population. In fact, by 2005, there were over 1,000 Iranian blogs online.

The rise of blogging in Iran was largely driven by the country's growing internet penetration and the increasing demand for online freedom of expression. As a result, blogging became a powerful tool for Iranians to share their thoughts, opinions, and experiences with the world.

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The early days of blogging in Iran were marked by the creation of the Cyber Police unit, known as FATA, in January. This unit aimed to control which sites Iranians could visit, prevent spying, and protect the public from "immoral" material.

In 2001, the first Persian blog was published by Hossein Derakhshan, using manual coding. He later published instructions on how to make a blog in Persian using Blogger's free service, in response to readers' requests.

Here's a brief timeline of key events in the early days of blogging in Iran:

In 2004, Persian blogging continued to gain momentum.

Protesting MPs on a sit-in started a weblog in January, marking another instance of bloggers using their platforms for social and political commentary.

The Persian Blogging festival kicked off in June, celebrating the growing community of Persian bloggers.

Iranian blogger Mojtaba Saminejad was arrested in November for writing about the arrests of three other bloggers, highlighting the risks and challenges faced by bloggers in the country.

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In 2005, Iranian bloggers faced censorship and restrictions. Saeed Mortazavi, Tehran's Chief prosecutor, ordered major ISPs to filter PersianBlog and other blogging service websites on January 5th.

This move was a significant blow to the Iranian blogging community. Mojtaba Saminejad, an Iranian blogger, was briefly released from prison on January 27th/February 12th, only to be rearrested soon after.

By October of that year, there were an estimated 700,000 Iranian blogs, with about 10% of them being active. The Blog Herald reported this figure, highlighting the growing popularity of blogging in Iran.

A new initiative was launched in Qom, the holy city of Iran's religious establishment, to promote blogging among the local population. The office of religious weblog expansion started offering blogging courses in October 2005.

Blogging in Iran is a significant phenomenon, with around 700,000 Iranian blogs, mostly based in Iran, according to estimates.

The Persian language is a popular language in the blogosphere, ranking second most popular.

Iran's bloggers have played a crucial role in reporting on taboo subjects like torture and false imprisonment, especially after the disputed 2009 election.

Blogging has become a vital tool for the opposition to disseminate information freely in Iran.

The government's strict censorship laws prohibit the publication of any information that contests government views.

Iran's bloggers have been a credible source of free information for the public, especially when other means of communication were restricted.

The government's persecution of bloggers and journalists cancels out their commitment to Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

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Hossein Derakhshan, also known as the "blogging godfather", was born in Iran in 1975 and moved to Canada in 2000.

He created the first Persian blog in 2001 with a simple instruction manual on how to set up and write a Persian-language blog.

Derakhshan's blog became highly political in 2003, encouraging opposition through writing.

He visited Egypt in 2006, where the Egyptian blogosphere was also at its peak activity, and met with Egyptian bloggers.

Derakhshan's efforts to mend relations between Iran and Israel, sworn enemies, were publicly visible during the same tour.

In 2008, he was arrested in Iran and sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison, among other penalties.

Hossein Derakhshan, also known as the "blogging godfather" or the "blogfather", was born in Iran in 1975. He's a pioneer in the Iranian blogosphere.

Derakhshan moved to Canada in 2000, where he started the first Persian blog in 2001. His simple instruction manual on how to set up and write a Persian-language blog helped take off the Iranian blogosphere.

By 2003, Derakhshan's blog had become highly political, encouraging opposition through writing. His blog was a significant voice in the Iranian blogosphere.

In 2006, Derakhshan went back to the Middle East and visited Egypt, where he met with Egyptian bloggers. He also visited Israel publicly, seeking to mend relations between Iran and Israel.

Derakhshan's support for presidential candidate Ahmadinejad in 2006 ultimately led to his downfall. He was arrested in 2008 while visiting family in Iran.

Derakhshan was sentenced to 19 and a half years in prison, banned from political party membership for five years, and ordered to repay earnings of around $44,500 for "propagating against the regime" and "co-operating with hostile states."

Shirin Ebadi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, a testament to her remarkable work as an Iranian human rights lawyer.

Her win was a significant moment in the Iranian blogosphere, with bloggers dominating the top ten rankings on www.damasanj.com, a website that tracks the most talked-about stories in the Iranian blogosphere.

Ebadi's work focused on representing women, children, and dissidents against the Iranian regime, but the official news failed to report her actual accomplishments.

Instead, bloggers provided up-to-date information and bios on Ebadi's work, which the traditional press had failed to print.

Thousands of people attended a reception for Ebadi at Tehran airport upon her return, proving that bloggers could translate to actual events.

The reception was organized by bloggers, who called for people to celebrate Ebadi's victory and protest the current situation of women's rights and oppression.

The government eventually responded to Ebadi's Prize by casting her as an apostate and a member of a foreign conspiracy against Iran.

There are numerous academic papers and studies that have explored the phenomenon of blogging in Iran.

Researchers have published articles in reputable journals such as the Middle East Review of International Affairs and the American Anthropologist.

Some notable studies include "Cyberdissent: The Internet in Revolutionary Iran" by Babak Rahimi, and "The Vulgar Spirit of Blogging": On Language, Culture, and Power in Persian Weblogestan by Alireza Doostdar.

These studies provide valuable insights into the role of blogging in Iranian society and the ways in which it has been used as a tool for social and political change.

Here are some key findings from these studies:

In Iran, English is a widely used second language due to high education levels. Many influential bloggers use English to expose the outside world to the goings on in Iran.

The use of English in Iranian blogs also serves as a means to increase international outrage at the Iranian regime. Several influential bloggers made a plea to other bloggers to use this medium to achieve this goal.

The Iranian diasporic community plays a significant role in contributing to the blogosphere, with many writers using their native or adopted languages in addition to Persian.

Academic research has played a significant role in understanding the impact of the internet and blogging on Iran. Babak Rahimi's 2003 paper, "Cyberdissent: The Internet in Revolutionary Iran", is a notable example of this research.

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In his paper, Rahimi explores the role of the internet in Iran's 2003 protests. He argues that the internet was a key factor in mobilizing dissent and challenging the government's authority.

Academic papers have also examined the cultural and linguistic aspects of Iranian blogging. Alireza Doostdar's 2004 paper, "The Vulgar Spirit of Blogging", analyzes the language and culture of Persian weblogs, highlighting the tension between traditional and modern values.

Doostdar's research suggests that Iranian bloggers often use humor and irony to critique the government and social norms. This approach allows them to navigate the complexities of censorship and self-censorship.

A 2004 paper by Peder Are Nøstvold Jensen provides insights into the world of Iranian English language weblogs. Jensen's case study highlights the diversity of Iranian online voices, both inside and outside the country.

Some notable academic papers on the topic of Iranian blogging include:

Alibaba is not a government or oppressive regime, so there isn't a direct comparison to be made with Iran's treatment of bloggers. However, we can look at the topic of blogging in general.

There are about 700,000 Iranian blogs mostly based in Iran, and the Persian language is ranked as the second-most-popular language in the entire blogosphere.

The Iranian government's persecution of bloggers and journalists cancels out their commitment to Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees freedom of expression.

Iran's treatment of bloggers has led to sanctions being signed by the U.S. targeting Iran's human right abusers for the first time ever.

Blogging became a popular tool in Iran after the disputed 2009 election, enabling the opposition to report freely about taboo subjects like torture and false imprisonment.

Blogging in Iran is a rapidly growing phenomenon, with five to seven million Iranians using the Internet and many visiting forums or creating their own web diaries.

The number of blogs in Persian stands at 64,000, making it the fourth most popular language after English, French, and Portuguese.

Young people in Iran see blogs as a means to express themselves, often politically, but the ruling mullahs are watching over them with a keen eye.

Hossein Derakhshan, one of the most famous Iranian bloggers, has lived in Canada since 2000 and launched his blog in 2002 to comment on the political situation in Iran.

He writes in both Persian and English, covering topics like pop culture and technology, and has inspired many young Iranians to start their own blogs.

Ali, a 24-year-old from Tehran, was inspired by Derakhshan and started his own blog in March 2003, stating that he wanted to leave behind a mark.

The Iranian government is panicking about the rise of blogging and has resorted to spying on sites like 'Blogger', 'Blogfa.com', and 'Persian blog'.

In mid-January 2005, a conservative deputy, Nasser Nassiri, called on the government to ban Orkut and Yahoo Messenger, Internet forums widely visited by young Iranians.

Iran's blogging scene was once a hotbed of activity, with a staggering 64,000 Persian-language blogs by 2004, according to the NITLE blog census.

Many of these bloggers were living dangerously, as Hossein Derakhshan, a pioneering Iranian blogger, was imprisoned by the Iranian government in 2008 for his work.

Despite the risks, blogging allowed women in Iran to express themselves freely, providing a means to talk about restrictions on women, including the mandatory Hijab. Women could communicate with men openly online, discuss topics like premarital sex and underground parties, and follow fashion trends and feminist news.

The Iranian government's repression of bloggers and activists didn't stop them from using the internet to defy authority, as seen during the 2003 student uprisings, which were largely reported on blogs.

Women in Iran's blogging scene are making a significant impact. As of 2004, the number of blogs in Persian surpassed 64,000, with some of the most popular Iranian bloggers being women.

The internet provides a means for women to escape the need to identify themselves openly, particularly as family honor can be associated with women. This freedom allows them to talk about restrictions on women, including the mandatory Hijab.

Women can communicate with men openly as contributors or commentators on each other's blog, even having virtual boyfriends online. They can discuss premarital sex, underground parties, and other youth activities often frowned upon or considered illegal.

The education system in Iran gives access to education and new technologies, including computers and the internet, to large numbers of lower-class people. This has led to a high education rate among women, with females even surpassing males in university enrollment.

Some popular female bloggers have used their platforms to address issues like prostitution under the regime, which is formally denied. For example, one blogger revealed that the rate of runaway girls has grown 20 times between 1986-1999, with the average age of girls now 14.7.

Women have also used their blogs to report on news and updates during times of unrest, such as the 2003 student uprisings throughout the country. This allowed for more organized and planned protests, even when the press was not reporting on the situation.

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Hossein Derakhshan, also known as the 'Blogfather', spent six years in prison for his blogging work.

He was arrested in 2008 and released in 2014.

Derakhshan observed a shift in the internet from a decentralized, diverse, and text-centered space to a centralized, image-centered, and entertainment-focused platform dominated by social networks.

He noted that many bloggers and activists have forgotten about politics and are now focused on social media.

Derakhshan believes that the rise of social media has led to a decline in serious discussions and debates.

He thinks that video content simplifies complex messages and is more convenient for demagogues and populists to rise to power.

In Iran, there are about 700,000 blogs, mostly based in the country, with the Persian language being the second-most popular language in the blogosphere.

Social media has become extremely popular in Iran, with over 25 million people using Telegram, a messaging application.

The Iranian government has been accused of violating human rights, including freedom of expression, as stated in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Derakhshan's sentence of 19.5 years in prison is considered one of the most atrocious sentences ever ruled against an Iranian journalist or blogger.

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