from Hacker News

Tell HN: A hacker's life is in danger, your awareness may be life saving

by michaeltimo on 11/5/22, 6:25 PM with 103 comments

It's been a month that Jadi (real name: Amir Emad Mirmirani), an Iranian geek, has been imprisoned in Iran's most notorious prison called Evin in Tehran.

In Iran, he is one of the most famous people active in the field of programming and computer education. In his personal blog[0], he has been writing about technology and society for years. He has also a YouTube channel[1][2] to teach and encourage Iranians to programming and Linux, and a podcast[3] that has been explaining technology and science news along with his comments for several years. All this in a country with a dictatorial government where standing in the right place has a heavy price.

His arrest occurred on October 5, a few days after the recent nationwide protests[4] began in Iran. Arrest at home with beating. The reason for this is not yet clear, but it is probably due to his efforts to increase awareness of the society about Iran's internet censorship system, and his positions against a company called ArvanCloud. Many claim this company help the government of Iran in implementing the internet censorship's system (something like Great Firewall of China). In Jadi's own words, this company has made it possible for the government to turn the Internet into an intranet at any moment and block people's access to international services. Something that happens in every demonstration in Iran including right now.

The reason I am writing here is to raise awareness about him, which may lead to his release. All this may be nothing more than a false hope, but it is what I can do. From the news he covered in his podcast, it could be guessed that he is one of the regular readers of Hacker News. Perhaps hearing your support here will boost his morale behind bars in Evin. The prison which is also known as Evin University due to the number of educated political prisoners [5].

[0](Persian) https://jadi.net/

[1](Persian) https://www.youtube.com/jadimirmirani

[2](English) https://www.youtube.com/geekingjadi

[3](Persian) https://castbox.fm/channel/%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%AF%DA%A9%D8%B3%D8%AA-%E2%80%93-%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%86%D8%AA-%7C-%DA%A9%DB%8C%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%A2%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF-id22150?country=us

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahsa_Amini_protests

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evin_Prison

  • by millzlane on 11/5/22, 6:52 PM

  • by ninefathom on 11/5/22, 7:06 PM

    I've had the privilege in the past of working with a small number of Irani technology professionals, and I found these particular individuals to be some of the most capable and well-rounded in the entirety of my experience with the global technology field.

    The idea of any of those individuals sitting in prison for political reasons turns my stomach.

  • by blameitonme on 11/5/22, 8:00 PM

    I'm a student in India and I discovered him 6-7 months ago and have watched many of his videos and learnt a lot, I still suggest his channel to friends when topic comes.

    It feels weird, like a lot is going through my head but realistically I can't do anything.

    If you will ever read this jadi, hope you're safe and thanks for your teachings. <3

  • by AugustusCrunch on 11/5/22, 7:27 PM

    I'm following the protests. I'm not sure why a cruel and sadistic minority can run a country, but it happens. I'm inclined to wonder why the US military, pulling out, didn't arm every woman and intellectual in the country. I won't forget his name.

  • by ShredKazoo on 11/5/22, 7:49 PM

    This appears to be a good subreddit for following protests and other developments: https://www.reddit.com/r/NewIran/

  • by lo2y on 11/5/22, 10:23 PM

    I am from Yemen, and we are suffering from the same religious ideology. The least I can do is upvote this and hope for his safe return and freedom for Iran and Iranian people.

  • by 31337Logic on 11/5/22, 6:42 PM

    Thanks for doing this.

  • by tsycho on 11/5/22, 6:46 PM

    How can we help?

  • by kolpazan on 11/5/22, 7:47 PM

    Jadi, I am sure you will make Evin the best Hacker School of Iran. I wish I could do more thn few words

  • by doron2402 on 11/5/22, 7:20 PM

    Thanks for posting this. Sending my thoughts and prayers to all Iranian

  • by ethotool on 11/5/22, 9:22 PM

    I feel for these individuals who are suffering but let’s be clear.

    This attempt at overthrowing the regime in Iran with the help of the western media is probably not going to work. This is not the first time that it’s been attempted. If you’re willing to stand against your own government then you’re definitely brave but you will likely deal with the consequences no matter where you’re from. And that’s not something anyone can help with.

    I posted this a few months back and I was downvoted but I’ll say it again. It’s important that we all remain neutral and promote non-interventalisim on this platform. One life harmed or lost is not worth it!

  • by melony on 11/5/22, 7:20 PM

    This thread will make things worse. When you raise a person's profile, the state won't stand idly by. You will end up with another Assange or Snowden. If this thread snowballs, the Iranian government will make an example out of him purely for the sake of it. In other words, your virtue signaling is going to get him killed.

    If you truly care, for whatever reason, reach out to your contacts in the country and grease a few palms. Those countries are poor and easily bribed. But if you raise too much awareness, then his freedom would be beyond bribes and diplomatic pressure.

  • by riku_iki on 11/5/22, 6:59 PM

    > The reason I am writing here is to raise awareness about him, which may lead to his release.

    its unlikely Iran government cares about opinions on the HN.

  • by gigatexal on 11/5/22, 8:45 PM

    What can we do? I know his name now but I want to do something.

  • by breck on 11/5/22, 8:34 PM

    I can't find a Git or GitHub account for him. Any ideas?

  • by senand on 11/5/22, 6:47 PM

    All the best to Jadi

  • by mrpf1ster on 11/5/22, 6:49 PM

    Stay strong Jadi

  • by renewiltord on 11/5/22, 6:49 PM

    Is there an action I can take?

  • by cleerline on 11/5/22, 7:33 PM

    let him go

  • by v0xer on 11/5/22, 6:51 PM

    thanks

  • by buzzwords on 11/5/22, 6:59 PM

    When it comes to Iranian government, there are two types of people that run it. First group are the fanatic idiots who consider themselves at war with the west. They see anyone who who is not aligned with their view as enemy and therefore must be removed/killed. The second group are opportunists who probably have assets abroad and will do and say anything to stay in power as long as possible to milk every last penny. I think it's important to identify them and their families abroad. Deporting their families and freezing their assets inorder to change their behaviour.

  • by OJFord on 11/5/22, 6:55 PM

    It's interesting to me having recently slightly broken a few years' stint of largely ignoring 'the news', at least more than I have for ages, that I've heard about the protests in Iran twice via HN now (previously via Rust 1.65 release note: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33451359) and not at all from the newspapers I've read.

    (I think I'll go back to largely ignoring it, satisfied that HN is a perfectly adequate 'jumping off point' for everything worth reading, with perhaps better global coverage of the worthy stuff.)

  • by h4t on 11/5/22, 7:33 PM

    Does protesting even do any good in a government such as Iran? Being present during a protest -- get targeted and locked up or worse (killed). It is really doing the oppressors a favor by gathering together.Rather than take it to the streets they should take it to the basement and plan out calculated attacks and disrupt the infrastructure that facilitate their rule.

  • by TheRealQuestion on 11/5/22, 7:36 PM

    Before making an appeal to save foreign hackers, how about that one guy who exposed the total corruption of our western elite and is still rotting in prison for no moral wrongdoing. Where's my Free Julian Assange topic? HN is truly disgusting/compromised.

  • by mathspaniel on 11/5/22, 7:33 PM

    Please do not do this. There is nothing that anyone on HN can do to help, and raising awareness may bring undue attention from the Iranian authorities. Although I'm sure this wasn't your intent, this thread amounts to rubbernecking of an incarcerated man in a perilous situation.

  • by recuter on 11/5/22, 7:04 PM

    > The reason I am writing here is to raise awareness about him, which may lead to his release.

    I understand that you are desperately trying to help him but you need to think very carefully about unintended consequences in these situations. I don't have specific advice I would want to post here.

    I do have a question that has been on my mind: these protests seem to be spontaneous and the crackdown spastic - I don't get how people like Jadi allowed themselves to be caught in the first place as he has the skillset to avoid detection.

    Why did he ever post anything under his real name? How did he not see the arrest coming? Why is everything so disorganized at this seemingly late stage?

    Anyway, I wish him and you the best of luck.

    P.S. - There is a lot of interesting none-philosophical reading material produced in the US and elsewhere during the counterculture era that you might find extremely useful more directly than the well wishing going on in this thread.

    P.P.S - For people who are taking this as some sort of debbie downer comment understand that there are reports not only of teenagers being incarcerated but show trials and impending death sentences. Sadly, you can expect some people like Jadi will be made an example of - this isn't a game.