Iran (MNN) — Where do you go for the truth if all your media is censored? 

For the past decade, Iran has carefully crafted its internet infrastructure so that the government maintains tight control over the entire nation’s access. They route international web traffic through a few state-controlled gateways, effectively creating chokepoints. As demonstrated by the 88-day long internet blackout earlier this year, authorities are able to use this to cut off the country’s internet whenever they wish. 

Graphic courtesy of Transform Iran

Further, Iran is one of the most repressive nations towards free-speech. Most press is limited to state-controlled media. The Iranian constitution allows authorities to ensure journalists “do not offend the clergy and the Supreme Leader” and do not “spread false information.” Lana Silk with Transform Iran says that they created the media ministry Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) to give Iranians uncensored news. 

“It became a really important tool for Iranian believers to be able to see past the propaganda and the censorship of the government and understand what is really going on,” Silk says. 

FCNN, operating since 2007, reports truthfully on events in Iran, and it does so with a Christian worldview.

“It is about matters relevant to what God is doing in the country and what impacts the church,” Silk says. 

Recently, FCNN made their website accessible in English and Dutch, so that people outside Iran can get news stories that are being repressed by the dictatorial government. 

Graphic courtesy of Transform Iran

Silk says, “ People are asking us all the time, ‘What’s going on? What do we pray for? What’s the inside news?’ We do have a lot of inside news. So we just made the decision to make the website available in Dutch and in English by AI translation.

“It’s relevant to people who are invested in Iran specifically and want to know what’s happening in Iran.” 

Pray for FCNN

Pray that more Iranians would find out about FCNN, especially non-Christians. Users in Iran tell FCNN that their site makes it possible for them to find reliable news in a country where they have to doubt every headline. 

“We have a very small team and a very small budget, so pray for health and refreshment for them as they work, because they really are serving above and beyond to get the news up and out,” Silk says. 

Silk also asks that we would pray for the safety of writers and the sources sharing information. You can find out more about how you can be a part of the work of Transform Iran here. 

Header image courtesy of Transform Iran