Iran’s hardline former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has become the latest political figure to join Twitter, despite having been instrumental in getting it banned in the country. One of Ahmadinejad’s first tweets from his personal account was a video in which he called on people to follow him at @Ahmadinejad1956. “In the name of God Peace be upon all the freedom loving people of the world,” he wrote in English. Iranian users – who can get round the restrictions using privacy software – were quick to point out the irony that Twitter was banned after mass protests against Ahmadinejad’s re-election in 2009. However, his erratic and insubordinate style saw him fall out with the conservative establishment during his time as president, and Khamenei advised him last year against running again.

Source: The Guardian March 05, 2017 16:09 UTC