A selection of news articles by Ali Orokzai
The articles are written as fact-checks. They do not include bios or opinions and are based solely on news and verified sources.
American Porn Star's Gleeful Depiction of Iran Distorts Regime’s Oppressive Nature
On February 7, Whitney Wright, an American porn star and Instagram influencer, shared a photograph of herself posing in front of the former United States Embassy in Tehran, Iran. Wright appeared standing next to a lowered American flag at her feet, with sunglasses pushed up to her head and a scarf loosely covering her hair, leaving most of it exposed.
On X, Iran's Khamenei dignifies Raisi's legacy, sparking outrage
On June 11, Iranian embassies worldwide launched a three-day campaign inviting host countries to sign a book of condolences nearly a month after a helicopter crash killed Iran's top state officials, including President Ebrahim Raisi.
Afghan poet falsely claims that Afghanistan's Panjshir is part of Iran
On March 25, Iran-based Tasnim News Agency posted an article headlined "Leader Encourages Poets to Harness Power of Poetry Against Global Tyranny.” It noted that 40 poets gathered at the Imam Khomeini Hussainiyah in Tehran, a part of the House of Leadership, where Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appears publicly.
X user misrepresents police brutality video as display of Pakistani–Afghan tensions
A blue-checked X user, self-identified as “Rajendra Singh” or “RS” with about 11,000 followers, routinely posts violent and graphic footage, often with misleading or false descriptions. In his profile, RS uses “Bharat,” the ancient Hindu name for India, as a location tag.
X Influencer Faked Taliban Statement Announcing Military Invasion of Pakistan
On March 18, Pakistan conducted air strikes purportedly targeting armed groups hiding in regions of Afghanistan bordering Pakistan
Iran’s Fars News Agency Stirs Misinformation About Leaked Hospital CCTV Footage
On March 3, Iran International, a London-based Persian-language news television channel, shared CCTV footage taken inside a hospital in the Iranian city of Qom, causing heated discussions both inside Iran and online.
Prince Salman Did Not Free Saudi Women From Sharia Dress Code
On February 25, Globe Eye News, a blue-checked X account, claimed that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud promised Saudi women the freedom to choose what to wear.
Khamenei Falsely Blames US for Iranian Regime's Declining Public Approval
On February 20, 2024, Iranian authorities imprisoned three activists who called for an election boycott and criticized the Islamic Republic in the run-up to Iran's parliamentary elections, set for March 1.
Contrary to Iranian FM’s Claim, Iran Isn’t Among Top 5 Countries in Science, Technology
A number of news outlets publish rankings of countries in the areas of technology and science, and while they vary, none of them has placed Iran in the top five for science or technology.
Taliban Health Minister Denies Afghanistan's Mother and Child Mortality Rate is Skyrocketing
On December 21, 2023, Taliban Health Minister Qalandar Ibad discussed the state of health care in Afghanistan with Agenda AWANI, a Malaysian news channel, during his visit to the Southeast Asian country.
Missile Strike Exchanges Between Iran, Pakistan Prompt Viral Fakes on X
After Iran and Pakistan exchanged missile strikes in mid-January, falsified news about the two regional powers’ escalating conflict, including fabricated statements and documents, went viral on X.
Iran’s 17 Surveillance Tapes Show Journalists Accused of Spying Are Being Prosecuted for Independent Reporting
On January 14, the Iranian regime released journalists Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi from prison after 16 months of incarceration. Each of them posted $200,000 bail, and the court imposed a travel ban on both, preventing them from leaving Iran.
Afghan Women, Girls Detained Over ‘Bad Hijab’ But Taliban Deny Enforcing Dress Code
On January 11, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have been detaining and arresting women for noncompliance with the dress code rule, namely wearing the headscarf or hijab.
Iran Baselessly Blames US, Israel for Kerman Attack
On January 3, two explosions in the Iranian city of Kerman killed nearly 100 people and injured 284 others, including children. The attacks targeted mourners gathering at the burial site of General Qassem Soleimani, who was commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to commemorate the fourth anniversary of his assassination in a January 2020 U.S. drone strike.
Despite Denials, Pakistan Deported Afghan Refugees Waiting for US Resettlement
Pakistan has denied targeting Afghan refugees for deportation. In October, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said the country’s deportation policy affects all "illegal” refugees “no matter their nationality,” and that reports “associating” the deportations with Afghan refugees are the result of “misunderstanding or misrepresentation.”
Police in Iran Falsely Deny Arresting Man for Dancing and Singing
Sadegh Bagheri, an Iranian market stall owner in the Caspian Sea coastal city of Rasht in northern Gilan province, was captured on video dancing and singing a folk song with onlookers clapping, dancing and singing along. Bagheri published the video on his Instagram account with some 120,000 followers at the end of November.