Rafsanjani dies

BBC News, Iran's ex-President Rafsanjani dies at 82, 8 Jan 2017

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani discusses Facebook

AFP/The Nation, Iran ex-president sees Facebook as a ‘blessing’, 1 Jun 2012 "Facebook is a “blessing” that helps freedom-seeking movements challenge tyranny, a former president of Iran — which routinely blocks access to the social networking site — was quoted as saying in a report by the ISNA news agency. "“We see that a Facebook page costing nothing can outstrip several television and radio outlets, and can influence millions of people,” said Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, according to ISNA report published on Tuesday and relayed by several newspapers and online sites since."

'Rafsanjani Brother Confirms Website Blocked After Official Order '

RFE/RL, Rafsanjani Brother Confirms Website Blocked After Official Order, 30 Dec 2011 "Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's office manager and younger brother, Mohammad Hashemi, confirmed today in an interview with Iran's ILNA news agency that the website of the former president and head of the Expediency Council has been blocked after officials intervened over the site's content."

Iran: Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

LA Times, Powerful Iranian cleric barred from delivering Quds Day prayers, 16 Sep 09 "Supporters of Mousavi's Green Path of Hope movement responded defiantly to the news that Rafsanjani had been pushed aside, calling on demonstrators to take to the streets anyway while boycotting the prayer sermon after the rally.

""They kept Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani from leading this week's Friday Prayers clearly out of fear," said a statement posted at the reformist website Mowjcamp.com. "This badly thought-out gesture will certainly elicit an appropriate response from the understanding and green-thinking nation of Iran.""