The International Press Institute today called on the Iranian government to stop jailing reporters and bloggers and to lift any restrictions on their freedom to move and report freely.

In a letter to the Iranian ambassador to Austria, IPI Director David Dadge said, “The Iranian people and the world have a right to information as well as commentary. The increasing reliance on social media networks and the internet indicate a desire among Iranian citizens for access to news, and forums in which to express their opinions.”

“It is not the role of any government to act as a filter between news and the public.”

As part of a crackdown on protests against the disputed results of the June 12 election, which left at least 17 people dead and several hundreds wounded, the Iranian government has rounded up numerous journalists, reformers and bloggers. According to sources, at least 34 journalists have been detained by government security forces, including Newsweek correspondent Maziar Bahari and Washington Times correspondent Iason Athanasiadis. At least 13 journalists are still in custody. Satellite signals from the BBC Persia and Voice of America have been jammed by a signal reportedly originating in Iran.  The Tehran branch of Al-Arabiya station was shut down on 13 June; they now have reportedly been told they must stay closed indefinitely.

The offices of ZDF, NBC and Turkish television were raided on 14 June.  Foreign correspondents have been forbidden from reporting on the street, or travelling to areas where “unauthorized” rallies are taking place.  The media has had to rely on cellphone and other private footage, expending valuable energy in checking the authenticity of video and reports.

Much of the information about the ongoing turmoil and violence has come out through Twitter and other Internet sites, which have proved an invaluable communications tool. But early on 17 June, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard warned online media to remove all content that might “create tension,” or face legal consequences, according to the Associated Press.

Over the past weekend, BBC correspondent Jon Leyne was been expelled from the country; others, who had been granted visas to cover the elections, have had their visas revoked and have been asked to leave the country.