] The story of the Internet and the mullahs is a
] fascinating study in how technology can subvert even the
] most repressive of regimes. In the past couple of years,
] Iranian authorities have cracked down hard on the
] country's reformist press, closing newspapers and
] arresting journalists. But it will be harder for the
] mullahs to close down the Web. Sina Montallebi has become
] a powerful symbol of the liberal and technology-savvy
] generation that the mullahs have failed to suppress.

] Can you have social, cultural and economic liberalization
] without political freedom? Iran will be one of the test
] cases. And even though the regime is cracking down on the
] Net, the young Webloggers believe they can't crack down
] forever. "For sure it won't last too long," IranianGirl
] wrote recently. "Their time is over."

The Globe and Mail | The story of the Internet and the frustrated mullahs