Iranian authorities have blocked the word “Bahman” – the 11th month of the Persian calendar which corresponds with “Aquarius” – from Internet searches within the country, according to an opposition website, Saham News. The measure appears to be an effort by Iranian authorities to obstruct access to several websites that are promoting a rally on Monday — the 25th day of Bahman — proposed by Iranian opposition leaders in support of the uprising in Egypt, Saham News reported on Saturday 12th February 2011. Two Tehran residents also confirmed the block. This article titled “Iran jams BBC’s Persian TV service” was written by Roy Greenslade, for guardian.co.uk on Friday 11th February 2011 08.31 UTC The BBC’s Persian TV service is being jammed from within Iran due to its coverage of the unrest in Egypt. It appears that the trigger point was a joint broadcast on Wednesday by the corporation’s Persian and Arabic services in which Iranian and Egyptian callers exchanged views. Many Iranian viewers said during the interactive programme that they were watching events unfold in Cairo extremely closely. Peter Horrocks, head of BBC Global News, called for an end to the jamming, saying: “It is wrong that our significant Iranian audience is being denied impartial news and information… “The BBC will not stop covering Egypt and it will continue to broadcast to the Iranian people.” BBC Persian TV launched in 2009 and has suffered similar attempts to interfere with its signal intermittently ever since. But it continues to stream live online. Coincidentally, today marks the 31st anniversary of the uprising by the Iranian people against the Shah. Source: BBC Global News press release
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