Hossein Derakhshan, the Iranian-Canadian 'blogfather' who published instructions on how to blog in Farsi - thereby sparking a kind of blogging renaissance in Iran - has, according to reports, been sentenced to 19 1/2 years in jail by an Iranian court. He was convicted of, among other things, insulting Islamic religious figures and ideas, co-operating with hostile countries, promoting counter-revolutionary groups, and spreading propaganda against the ruling establishment.

Derakhshan was confirmed as being in an Iranian jail way back in 2008 after venturing inside the country's borders, and he's rotted in Iran's judicial system since despite the efforts of the Canadian government to secure his release - the problem being that Iran does not recognize dual citizenships. Once they've gotten someone, that person stays gotten.

The Propagandist has talked a little about Derakhshan's case before, and while it is somewhat heartening that he has not been sentenced to death - as it was earlier speculated he might -  this is quite obviously a loss for freedom of speech. Iran's descent into the barbarism of petty tyranny...More >>