Media watchdog blasts Iran as worst violator in region

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Oct. 21 – The international media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), in a report ranked Iran as the worst violator of press freedoms rights in the Middle East. Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Oct. 21 – The international media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), in a report ranked Iran as the worst violator of press freedoms rights in the Middle East.

RSF ranked Iran at 164 out of 167 in its 2005 annual Press Freedom Index.

“Iran (164th) once again has the region’s worst record of press freedom, with seven journalists in prison and four others provisionally free and in danger of being returned to jail at any moment”, the top media watchdog said.

It highlighted the cases of dissident journalist Akbar Ganji and cyber-dissident Mojtaba Saminejad, who are both currently serving prison terms.

The international press freedoms group frequently criticised media censorship and violation of journalists’ rights in Iran.