Aus den Newsletter von http://www.onlinejournalism.com:

U.S. Media shows Iranian blogs as ultra-liberal
Iranian bloggers speak their minds via the Internet, reports Reuters and CNN. One particular blogger, faheshe.persianblog.com, has received much attention in the English-language press. Reuters labeled her a 'prostitute' and CNN's headline ran as, 'Prostitute diary tops Iran Web hit.'

The reportage has elicited a strong response from sister blogger, LadySun, who denounces their reporting as 'irresponsible' and has posted a petition online. LadySun explains that CNN's 'provocative headlines' can be used as proof that Iranian Internet should be further regulated, an issue in current debate in the parliament and judiciary.

Faheshe's site is currently inaccessible due to a 'Terms of Service' violation. LadySun's blog meanwhile highlights restrictive dress codes, student demonstration and being in love.

[Nachtrag - Faheshe wieder erreichbar: http://faheshe.blogsky.com/ ]

Und die Reaktion von http://www.persianblog.com hat nicht lange auf sich warten lassen. Dort wurde eine Petition lanciert:

To:

CNN, An AOL Time Warner Company
Reuters News Agency, A Routers Company

Dear directors,

We are a group of internet website editors and users that believe in the free usage of internet. We strive for the further development of Internet and its increased usage among Iranian users. The remarkable increase in the number of various functional and specialized websites and Persian weblogs in a short period is a proof for success in this regard.
Your recent reports (Prostitute diary tops Iran Web hit and Iran Internet Use at Risk from Conservatives) on the situation of internet in Iran, conveys the wrong message that 'Prostitute diary tops Iran Web hit', and has led us to declare our strong objection against this report.
We, the undersigned, believe that this report is fictitious and insulting to Iranian culture and leads to ruin the image of Iranian Internet users. Considering this fact we demand:
1. The addressed media declares the invalidity of the article, and expresses its official apology in the official website of that media.
2. The addressed media acts with more consideration and seriousness in the future towards monitoring articles, and confirming the validity of articles and descriptions, presented by reporters and journalists of that media on the situation of Internet in Iran.


Hier die Geschichten zum Nachlesen: Proliferating Iranian weblogs give voice to taboo topics
Petition: To CNN, An AOL Time Warner Company And Reuters Company:
http://www.persianblog.com/petition.asp
faheshe.persianblog.com: http://www.faheshe.persianblog.com/
LadySun's weblog: http://ladysun.blogspot.com/
Reuters: Iran Internet Use at Risk from Conservatives (June 17, 2003):
http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=2943120
CNN: Prostitute diary tops Iran Web hit (June 16, 2003):
http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/internet/06/16/iran.blogs.reut/
Reuters: http://reuters.com
CNN: http://www.cnn.com