GREEN ACTION TO PROTECT IRANIAN BLOGGERS

From the Green Group of Councillors, Brighton & Hove City Council

Green Cllr Ben Duncan has called on all UK bloggers to change the
location and time zone details of their blog and twitter accounts to
say they are based in Iran.

His action comes after an Iranian blogger contacted him asking for
help, stating that Iranian secret police are rounding up people
blogging and twittering about events in the country, using a list
detailing which accounts are registered in Iran and with this unique
time zone.

Ben, the Green Group of Cllrs Human Rights Spokesperson and Green
Parliamentary candidate for Brighton Kemptown said:

“If thousands of us around the world make these settings our own, the
hope is that the secret police will be overwhelmed and free blogging
and twittering will continue in Iran a while longer.

“Freedom of speech on the 'net - and for journalists in general - must
be preserved: it's only if people know what's going on that they can
make an informed decision, and no-one will know what's going on if the
police are arresting everyone who's trying to tell us!

“So please change these details, even if just for a day or two: it
takes less than a minute, costs nothing, and could prevent an innocent
'blogger from a night (or more...) in the cells, and help preserve the
free flow of information about political events both inside, and
beyond, Iran.”

ENDS


Notes for editors:

Tehran time is GMT + 3.30

For more information please contact Ben Duncan on 07824 266 953, or
see his blog at:

http://greenkemptownben.blogspot.com/2009/06/act-now-to-protect-iranian-political.html