http://pdf.reuters.com/htmlnews/8knews.asp?i=43059c3bf0e37541&u=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20130610:nBw106605a
   Iranian Regime Posts Propaganda While Blocking Access for CitizensNEW YORK--(Business Wire)--Today, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) continued its Social Media Campaign,by contacting Google, Inc. regarding the YouTube and Google Plus accounts ofIranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Iranian regime uses the accounts (https://
  www.youtube.com/user/khameneiir
 and https://plus.google.com/100979543863804030648/) for propaganda, whilebanning its own citizens from accessing these Google platforms. In the aftermath of the disputed 2009 presidential elections, the regimeseverely punished citizens that utilized sites such as YouTube to mobilizeprotest and opposition activities, as well as disseminate footage ofdemonstrations and the regime`s human rights abuses. As part of its Social Media Campaign, UANI has also been calling on Facebook andTwitter to suspend Khamenei`s accounts. Like with YouTube and Google Plus, theregime uses Facebook and Twitter to spread propaganda and post offensivemessages, yet blocks Iranian citizens` access to the sites and has unjustlyimprisoned, tortured, and killed Iranians for using them. In a letter to Google CEO Larry Page, UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace,wrote:  If you recall, following the disputed June 2009 presidential elections inIran, YouTube was an instrumental tool in organizing protests and exposing theIranian regime`s violent crackdown to the world. YouTube also played aninvaluable role in the "viral" spread of the iconic video of the death ofprotester Neda Agha-Soltan, who was shot to death by a member of Iran`s Basijmilitia. This tragic video brought a symbolic face to the protest movement andraised global awareness on the Iranian regime`s wanton abuses taking place onthe streets of Iran. As part of the post-election crackdown, Iranian authorities blocked access toYouTube and prosecuted a number of protesters for their activities on the site.In addition to blocking YouTube, the Iranian regime has regularly disruptedaccess to Gmail, Blogger and Google Plus. By drastically slowing the connectionto these popular sites, the regime has attempted to drive users away from theseplatforms and towards alternative sites hosted in Iran that can be more easilymonitored. **** At the same time, Ayatollah Khamenei and other regime officials actively useYouTube and Google Plus to promote their own crude propaganda. AyatollahKhamenei uses YouTube to broadcast offensive rhetoric and Google Plus to publishphotos and excerpts of his inflammatory speeches. Such content includes ananti-American, anti-Israel YouTube video featuring anti-Semitic imagery in whichHassan Nasrallah, the leader of the terrorist group Hezbollah, and AyatollahKhamenei advocate for a "new Middle East" of radical theocracies. Furthermore, many of the loyalist candidates hand-picked to run for the upcomingpresidential elections in Iran are also active on these platforms. For example,chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Tehran mayor Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibafmaintain Google Plus accounts. These accounts are used to publish inflammatoryand offensive material. On May 24, 2013, for instance, Ghalibaf posted an imageof the Israeli flag set aflame with the word "expired" superimposed on it, andaccompanied by a diatribe against the "Zionist regime." **** Today, it is a sad irony that Ayatollah Khamenei and other senior regimeofficials actively use Google`s platforms to promote the regime`s radical agendato the world, while concurrently denying their people the ability to access thesocial media tools that were so vital during the 2009 election protests. Giventhat Google`s products and services remain illegal and inaccessible to Iraniancitizens while at the same time serving as a tool for the regime to spread itsown propaganda, Google should set a moral precedent and suspend AyatollahKhamenei`s account. Google must send the Iranian regime a message that it willno longer allow it to censor the digital freedom of the Iranian people withimpunity. UANI has requested a response by June 13, 2013. Click here to read UANI`s full letter to Google.Click here to send a message to Google.Click here to visit UANI's Iranian Regime Election Repression Toolkit.  United Against Nuclear IranNathan Carleton, 212-554-3296press@uani.comCopyright Business Wire 2013