A/HRC/25/26 Government regarding the deteriorating health conditions of prisoners, lack of medical attention and the risk of death faced by several prisoners. On 20 June 2013, Afshin Osanloo, a trade unionist, who was serving a five-year prison term, reportedly died from a heart attack in prison.11 On 1 November 2013, Abdolfattah Soltani went on hunger strike, protesting against the lack of external medical care for some prisoners. The hunger strike, joined by other prisoners, ended on 10 November. However, the protesters warned that they would resume the hunger strike if the Government maintained its refusal to grant specialized health care to prisoners who needed medical attention. 4. Restrictions on freedom of expression and opinion 12. The new administration has not made any significant improvement in the promotion and protection of freedom of expression and opinion, despite pledges made by the President during his campaign and after his swearing-in. Both offline and online outlets continue to face restrictions including closure. Individuals seeking to exercise or promote freedom of expression and opinion through dissenting views or beliefs continue to face arrest, prosecution and sanctions by the State. The 1986 Press Law, the 2009 Computer Crimes Law and the 2010 Cybercrime Law contain provisions which seriously limit freedom of expression. In his report to the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran expressed serious concerns at the restrictions imposed on freedom of expression and opinion, including online. He noted that up to 5 million websites were blocked, including Wikipedia sites by topic.12 With the exception of some Government officials who have access to Facebook and Twitter, the general population is barred from engaging in these online activities. Any individual found engaged in an online activity that is considered inappropriate by the authorities can face arrest and prosecution. 13. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 35 journalists were held in prison across the country as at 18 December 2013.13 Compared to the same period in 2012, this number has dropped from 45, partially due to the Government’s policy of releasing some journalists on furlough. In December 2013, 16 Internet activists were arrested on charges of providing contents and developing websites for foreign elements. Some of those arrested were reportedly the administrators of popular cultural and social pages on Facebook. They had occasionally posted news about the imprisonment of political prisoners. Seven others were allegedly working for an Iranian website, Narenji.ir, specialized in new technology.14 These individuals had their houses searched and personal items confiscated before being taken to an unknown location. 14. On 23 November 2013, judicial authorities in Rafsanjan confirmed the arrest of seven individuals for allegedly insulting sacred beliefs and Islamic values online and warned that the intelligence apparatus was monitoring the Internet closely and would take all possible actions to prevent certain online breaches.15 Journalists affiliated to minority groups and reformists also continue to face imprisonment. In November 2013, Khosro Kordpour and Masoud Kordpour were sentenced to six and three-and-a-half years 11 12 13 14 15 6 Amnesty International, “Death of Afshin Osanloo in the Iranian prison” (24 June 2013), available at http://www.amnesty.org.uk/blogs/focus-iran/death-afshin-osanloo-iranian-prison; and International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, “Osanloo’s family calls for investigation into his prison death” (26 June 2013), available at http://www.iranhumanrights.org/2013/06/osanloo_death/. A/68/503. Committee to Protect Journalists, “Second worst year on record for jailed journalists” (18 December 2013), available at http://www.cpj.org/reports/2013/12/second-worst-year-on-record-for-jailedjournalists.php. The Guardian, 5 December 2013, available at http://www.theguardian.com. Semi-official news, Khanehkheshti, 23 November 2013, available at http://www.khanehkheshti.com.