Dictators use disinformation to obscure the truth and advance their oppressive agendas. As George Orwell said, “In a time of deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” These words aptly describe the mission and actions of Simay Azadi (INNTV) in the struggle against Iran’s regime.
Shortly after hijacking Iran’s anti-monarchic revolution in 1979, the mullahs began oppressing a vibrant society that had just freed itself from the Pahlavi dictatorship. To consolidate his theocratic regime, Ruhollah Khomeini unleashed a reign of terror. Tens of thousands were executed, with many more imprisoned and tortured.
The regime’s crimes reached its height in the summer of 1988, when over 30,000 political prisoners, mainly members and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK), were executed in mere months.
As it oppressed the people, the regime also launched a disinformation campaign, portraying Iran as “normal” while branding dissidents who demanded freedom as “terrorists.” Alongside this massive purge, the regime invested billions in demonizing its opponents, publishing hundreds of books, producing films, and spreading daily hit pieces against the MEK.
In such circumstances, the need for an independent source of information became essential to the fight for freedom, both inside and outside Iran. This is where Simay Azadi came in.
Starting in 1986 with just a one-hour program, the channel quickly expanded, broadcasting various programs that revealed the truth about Iran and the ruling theocracy. In 1998, Simay Azadi became the first Farsi-speaking satellite channel to air 24/7.
From news coverage to updates on the Resistance, global support for the Iranian people’s struggle, and commemorating those who died for democracy, Simay Azadi has played a pivotal role in breaking the regime’s oppressive grip and giving a voice to the voiceless.
In an age where truth-telling becomes increasingly difficult, Simay Azadi has remained loyal to its principles. This loyalty is rooted in its independence, particularly financial independence. Simay Azadi is funded by the Iranian diaspora, the opposition’s supporters inside Iran, and freedom-loving people worldwide. The channel has held 28 telethons, each time drawing thousands of supporters, including many brave Iranians who risk their lives. One such individual, Gholamreza Khosravi, was executed in 2014 for, among other charges, financially supporting Simay Azadi.
When the Iranian Resistance exposed the regime’s nuclear activities in 2002, Simay Azadi was among the first to cover the story, revealing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and its race for an atomic bomb.
During Iran’s nationwide uprisings that have erupted since 2009, Simay Azadi reporters have played a vital role in exposing the regime’s brutality against protesters, while highlighting the courage of Iran’s defiant youth.
For over four decades, Simay Azadi has fearlessly exposed the untold stories of women’s oppression, the torture of youth, and the mounting pressure on all layers of society through its powerful programs. Its reporters have risked their lives to capture harrowing footage, including a video of regime forces gouging out a young man’s eye, revealing the brutal reality of Iran’s repression to the world.
Simay Azadi remains steadfast in its mission to document the atrocities within Iran’s vast prison, using every means available to aid in the country’s liberation.
By broadcasting live events where tens of thousands of Iranians and freedom-loving people worldwide call for a free and democratic republic, Simay Azadi has become a beacon of hope, showing those inside Iran that they are not alone.
Simay Azadi’s efforts have enraged the regime, which, in a sham trial, included the channel as a defendant alongside Iranian Resistance members. This underscores the importance of Simay Azadi’s work.
While language has never been a barrier in the fight for democracy and human rights, we are now launching Simay Azadi’s English website to share the Iranian people’s struggle and their Resistance with freedom-loving people worldwide.