IRAN: Facebook launching in Persian

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Facebook announced last night that it is launching a new Persian-language version of the social-networking site. From an engineer working on translating the site:

“Since the Iranian election last week, people around the world have increasingly been sharing news and information on Facebook about the results and its aftermath. Much of the content created and shared has been in Persian -- the native language of Iran -- but people have had to navigate the site in English or other languages.

“Today we’re making the entire site available in a beta version of Persian, so Persian speakers inside of Iran and around the world can begin using it in their native language.”

Although authorities have limited access to Facebook in Iran, Iranian nationals around the world have flooded to the site to swap news about their homeland. Within hours, the announcement received more than 750 comments and more than 4,250 “likes” from members.

Some of the other ways members have been showing solidarity with the protesters is to use their “Where is my vote?” logo on their profiles, or displaying their photos with a green wash, the color used by supporters of Iran’s main presidential challenger, Mir-Hossein Mousavi.

--Amber Smith in Los Angeles

Full coverage of Iran’s presidential election and its aftermath.

Pictures: Upheaval after Iranian election