Only a few weeks after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called Iran a “completely free” country in his trip to New York, a government committee blocked access to the official website of former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. The committee that aims to “determine criminal content on the Internet,” routinely blocks access to websites on the internet in Iran. Over the past several years, the committee has blocked almost all critical websites and blogs belonging to individuals, parties, political groups, and even civil society groups.

The committee is comprised of members from the Ministries of Information and Culture & Islamic Guidance, as well as representatives from the Prosecutor’s Office. Seyed Mohammad Khatami’s website, www.khatami.ir, publishes viewpoints and statements issued by former President Khatami who was in office for two terms between 1997 and 2005.

Mohammad Khatami is the first Iranian top official whose website is blocked.  Previously, websites of two top clerics, Ayatollah Dastgheib and Ayatollah Sanei, were also  blocked.