Iran: Newspaper Hammihan suspended indefinitely amid ongoing internet restrictions

As the country enters its thirteenth day of a digital blackout, the Iranian government has prohibited the publication of the newspaper Hammihan, by order of the Press Supervisory Board, for reporting on countrywide protests. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the suspension and stands in solidarity with Iranian journalists and media workers facing escalating censorship, intimidation and restrictions on their ability to report freely.

Vehicles drive past a burnt billboard as daily life returns to the streets following nationwide protests, in the Iranian capital Tehran on January 19, 2026. Credit: ATTA KENARE / AFP

On 19 January, domestic media outlets in Iran reported that the reformist daily Hammihanhad been suspended following a direct order from the Press Supervisory Board. According to IranWire, authorities cited two pieces of content as justification: an editorial by the newspaper's editor-in-chief, Mohammad-Javad Rouh entitled 'From January 1979 to January 2026',published on 15 January, and an article by journalist Elaheh Mohammadi, entitled 'When the Sanctity of Medical Care Was Broken',published on 7 January, which documented security force raids on hospitals in several cities.

In its final editions before the suspension, Hammihanreported extensively on the protestsagainst the regime, including the treatment of detainees taken to the Kahrizak forensic medical centre and the high number of injured protesters in cities such as Mashhad, Izeh and Ramhormoz.

The ban on publishing the newspaper comes as Iranian journalists continue to work in extremely difficult conditions following widespread internet disruptionsthat began on 8 January and have now stretched into a thirteenth day. While authorities have intermittently restored limited access, journalists' connectivity remains unreliable, severely restricting communication, verification and publication.

It is not the first time that Hammihanhas been taken offline in the context of State censorship. The newspaper has been suspendedmultiple timesin the past and journalists working for the outlet have previously faced arrestsand intimidation. This recurring pattern of repression reflects the Iranian authorities' systematic efforts to disrupt the free flow of information.

In October 2025, the managing director of Hammihan newspaper, Gholamhossein Karbaschi, statedpublicly that the Intelligence Service had summoned and threatened the newspaper's journalists. The latest suspension is a further escalation in the crackdown on independent and reformist media.

The IFJ urges Iranian authorities to lift the ban on Hammihan immediately, to restore full and stable internet access and to end all forms of pressure against journalists and media outlets.

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "Journalists must be able to report freely and safely and the public must not be denied access to independent information during moments of national crisis.