Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Iran

Abductors Said To Have Released Iranian Soldiers

30 January 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Reports in Iran say several Iranian soldiers abducted near the Pakistani border in December have been freed.

TEXT SIZE - +

January 30, 2006

Iranian news agencies IRNA and Fars News agency reported the development today, although the number of soldiers released remains unclear.

A total of nine Iranian soldiers were kidnapped.

The hostage takers claimed they were members of a Sunni militant group called Jundollah (Soldiers of God).

But Iranian officials have said they were drug smugglers with ties to terrorist groups. They have also said the abducted soldiers might have been taken into Pakistani territory.

RFE/RL Iran Report

SUBSCRIBE For regular news and analysis on Iran by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Iran Report."

Many Iranians have been claiming that their access to social networks and Internet-based e-mail sites has been blocked in recent days.

Iran Tightens Internet Control

Iranians are reporting that their access to Facebook and Internet-based e-mail sites like Gmail has been blocked, without any explanation from the government. Not even the strongest antifiltering programs have penetrated the firewall, they say. Some speculate the move is related to Iran's plan to launch a national internet, which might sever Iranians' ability to access the World Wide Web. More

Web-savvy Iranian oppositionists are renowned for their ability to use proxies and other means to circumvent Tehran

Explainer: Iran's National Internet

Reports that Iran has stepped up its Internet censorship in recent days -- as evidenced by a general slowdown of the web, Internet blackouts, and the blocking of sites such as Google -- has raised speculation that the country might be testing its controversial "national Internet." More

A cardboard Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini arrives in Tehran to mark the 33rd anniversary of his triumphant return to Iran following the Islamic Revolution.

Iran's 'Cardboard Khomeini' Faces Criticism, Condemnation

Iran's "Cardboard Khomeini" is fueling a firestorm of criticism in the Middle Eastern country after cutouts of the Islamic republic's founder appeared at a number of events, and photos mocking the mock-up went viral. More