Iran Cracks Down on Freedom as Conflict with Israel Rages On
Iran has begun crackdowns on alledged espionage for Israel. Kurds and Baha’is are feeling the brunt of the impact.
After the first week of the Israel-Iran war, Iranian forces have made a staggering 322 arrests. Among those arrested are around 30 women, 18 girls under the age of 18, two Afghan nationals, and one European citizen. Those arrested have been accused of “espionage for Israel” and “propaganda against the state”. Most arrests occurred in Tehran (60), Lorestan (39), and Hamedan (30).
This crackdown on freedom of expression disproportionately affects ethnic minorities and women. Of the around 30 women who were detained, 25 were Kurdish and in Kermanshah, all six arrestees were women. These arrests took place due to allegations of “celebrating or inciting unrest” in Iran. Additionally, the Judiciary in the Kurdistan Province issued region-specific warnings against expressing any sort of joy over the war.
Additionally, shortly after that report, arrests have increased across the board to include at least 734 confirmed individuals. Among these people are three Ukrainian nationals and five other European citizens including the European citizen in the previous report. As part of a “broader crackdown” on freedom of speech, Iranian authorities have begun looking at citizens’ social media. In Hamadan, 24 users faced charges of “espionage for Israel” while authorities in Yazd filed 81 cases regarding critical content. Furthermore, at least 200 Iranian netizens have received official threats or warnings regarding their online activity.
In addition to the numerous arrests, several executions have taken place. Three Kurdish men: Idris Ali and Azad Shojaei from Sardasht and Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul from Sulaymaniah were executed in Umria Central Prison. Mohammed Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, Majid Masibi, and Esmail Fekri were also executed under charges of espionage for Israel. Hengaw has raised concerns that others, including Swedish-Iranian national Ahmadreza Djalali, are at “imminent risk of execution”.
Meanwhile, the Baha’i community in Isfahan is facing a “new wave of pressure” to file complaints with Iranian security forces against their friends, family, and neighbors. If they do not comply with this order, they will face “serious consequences” such as arrest. Six Baha’is have been arrested across five provinces. Dozens of Baha’i homes have been raided as well. These threats against Baha’is have been present since late 2023.
Whenever Iran cracks down on dissent, women and minorities feel the brunt of the impact. The recent attempts to quash Kurdish and Baha’i voices in Iran are clear signs of the Islamic Republic’s ongoing human rights violations in the name of security. When many Iranians are fearing strikes from Israel, Kurds, Baha’is, other minorities, and those who oppose the current regime also have to fear their own government.
