In the final episode of ARTICLE 19’s podcast series on Iran, journalist and producer Jo Glanville discusses online harassment with Simin Fahandej, the representative of the Bahá’í International Community’s United Nations Office in Geneva, and Azadeh Pourzand, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Siamak Pourzand Foundation.

Last month, the UN fact-finding mission on Iran warned of an increasing crackdown since the war with Israel in June, with more than 21,000 arrests and mistreatment of minorities and journalists. There’s evidence that digital harassment is on the increase within this climate of repression, not only in Iran but transnationally as well. Tactics include smear campaigns, hacking, surveillance and direct threats which all are a chill on free speech, creating insecurity and fear. Despite this, Fahandej and Pourzand both see evidence of a vibrant civic space in Iran.

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