Struggle continues to free groundbreaking Iranian blogger

An Iranian-Canadian blogger imprisoned by authorities in Tehran for speaking out against human rights abuses in his country of origin is at the centre of a movement led by blogs and their readers to bolster online freedom of expression. Hossein Derakhshan—known more commonly among fellow bloggers as Hoder—has been held in an Iranian prison for a year, on the charge that he engaged in espionage for Israel. A massive international campaign has grown in the Blogosphere and among those who embrace social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to free Hoder, who has been widely credited with popularizing blogging among young Iranians.

Derakshan’s bravery in promoting blogs in a country that is among the most repressive anywhere in the world was rewarded by major publications, including The Guardian, where Hoder would contribute articles. But since his detention, little is known about has happened with this prominent blogger. Derakhshan’s family members have reportedly told media outlets that the pioneer blogger has been tortured while in prison, but these reports have not yet been confirmed.

Those who are actively lobbying for Hoder’s release from prison and against the notion that any blogger should be imprisoned for airing his/her views online, are worried that Tehran may have become even more authoritarian in its approach to online content. Popular unrest and dissatisfaction with the regime this past July was bolstered by bloggers and social networking sites, and this has made an already repressive regime even more suspicious of online activity