On the table: Why now is the time to sway Rouhani to meet his promises for press freedom in Iran

President Hassan Rouhani sought re-election on the promise of a more open Iran. But little has changed for the press, as hardliners in the judiciary and other powerful institutions jail journalists, block websites, and maintain a climate of fear with harassment and surveillance. The current international focus on Iran and its economic ties with Europe could represent an opening to engage on press freedom and other lapsed human rights.

The Committee to Protect Journalists will be publishing a special report focusing on threats to and opportunities for the Iranian press and examine the extent to which President Rouhani has implemented press freedom reforms.

With the support of the office of Marietje Schaake (ALDE, Netherlands), the Committee to Protect Journalists hopes to draw international attention to ongoing concerns relating to press and online freedoms and raise these questions with European Union institutions.

As the US pulls out of the Nuclear Deal, the EU finds itself in a new, important role for maintaining Iranian diplomatic relations. But what scope will there be for continuing to raise the alarm bell for continued repression in the country?

Through presentations by a panel of experts, the Committee to Protect Journalists would like to raise important questions in relation the record of the Rouhani administration in terms of fulfilling press freedom promises, as well as the continued detention of journalists and social media users, journalist self-censorship in the context of uncovering abuses of human rights and the rule of law, and future opportunities for reforms.