Iranian Journalist Kianoush Darvishi Held After Social Media Posts

Iranian authorities have detained journalist Kianoush Darvishi, summoning him to appear before the prosecutor’s office before placing him into Tehran’s Greater Prison, according to sources familiar with the case. Darvishi’s arrest on February 16, 2026, is linked to comments and reports he shared on the social platform X that drew the attention of Iran’s cyber police.

Darvishi, who had publicly disclosed on X earlier in February that Iran’s cyber police had contacted him over his online posts, was subsequently summoned and taken into custody. The journalist also stated that authorities froze his bank accounts through administrative action, without presenting the issue before a court.

Sources close to Darvishi’s family have highlighted his personal circumstances, noting he is the primary caregiver for his mother, who is battling cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. The detention, therefore, poses not only professional but also significant personal challenges for the journalist’s family.

While Iranian officials have not publicly detailed the charges against Darvishi, local observers and human rights advocates see his arrest as part of a broader intensification of restrictions on journalists, commentators, and social media users who express views critical of state authorities or cover sensitive topics. The cyber police and judiciary have increasingly used broad interpretations of security and digital speech laws to detain and prosecute media figures in recent months, according to independent sources inside and outside Iran.

Darvishi’s case comes amid an ongoing pattern in Iran where journalists and online commentators face heightened scrutiny and legal jeopardy for content shared on social media. Human rights groups have repeatedly documented similar arrests and account closures as part of a wider effort by Iranian security bodies to control digital information flows and suppress dissenting voices.

International press freedom organizations have condemned such detentions, characterizing them as violations of free expression and due process. The arrest of Darvishi, who has been active on social platforms to comment on social and political developments, underscores the mounting risks faced by journalists in Iran’s increasingly restrictive media environment.

Reference – 

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202602167712