Thread by @Amotevalli

.@Twitter has suspended the account of Heshmat Alavi, an Iranian activist devoted to a free Iran. He has exposed #Iran regime apologists on twitter and has had major stories on different news outlets. They refer to him as a «bot». #FreeAlavi #FreedomOfSpeech #HeshmatAlavi

Iranian regime apologists refer to their critics as «bots», just as @JZarif does and has taught them to do. People shouldn’t fall for this BS.

Fact is: Some Iranian freedom activists can’t use their real name on twitter. Why? Because by doing so, they not only put themselves..

.. in danger, but also their family, relatives and friends in Iran. Being an activist promoting the idea of peace, secularism, democracy and freedom is dangerous enough for any Iranian, being an activist doing the same while being an MEK sympathizer means death by execution.

@Twitter @jack @yoyoel Should consider these facts and unsuspend his account. He is an important voice for us Iranians with a broad network in Iran as well. Censoring his work by suspending his account is exactly what the Iranian regime wants. Don’t let their wish be granted.

Please unsuspend his account and let him continue is valuable work. After all, he’s the voice of millions of freedom loving Iranians in Iran, where twitter is banned by the regime (not for their own officials though).

#HeshmatAlavi #FreeAlavi #FreedomOfSpeech #Iran