Iran has started an aggressive campaign of media crackdowns and public punishments in recent days as the economy worsens and presidential elections grow closer.
Iranian human-rights groups say that although public executions happen on occasion in Iran, the uptick in them after rushed court judgments with no chance of appeal in recent days has been alarming.
Two influential and conservative news websites, Tabnak and Baztab, often critical of Mr. Ahmadinejad were shut down Monday, suggesting the media crackdown is targeted at any publication that challenges the regime’s narrative on political and economic issues.
Wall Street Journal