The Islamic Republic’s judiciary has opened files against 300 Iranians accused of speaking with Iran International, the Manoto Network or individuals affiliated with the two diaspora media sites, the judiciary spokesperson announced on Saturday.
“So far, 300 members of these networks have been identified. Investigations into these individuals have been placed on our agenda, indictments have been issued against them, and the cases of these 300 people have been referred to Branch 15 of the Tehran Islamic Revolutionary Court,” the spokesperson confirmed.
The charges were said to include intelligence cooperation with the enemy; espionage for the enemy during wartime; moharebeh (waging war against God); efsad fel-arz (corruption on earth); encouraging and inciting people to violence and killing; destruction of public property; financing terrorism; propaganda activities against the people, against the Islamic system, and against Islam, in cooperation with the Zionist regime and the United States; and efforts to undermine and weaken Iran.
Multiple of the aforementioned sentences carry the possibility of execution in Iran.
Tehran has often been accused of restricting reporting on the human rights violations being carried out by the regime, with UN officials alleging that was one of the primary purposes behind the nearly three-month internet blackout in Iran. During the protests, human rights groups reported that tens of thousands were killed and tens of thousands more arbitrarily detained for assembling and demonstrating against the regime.
Iranian authorities issue indictments against dissident media groups
The move comes weeks after Iranian authorities issued indictments against dissident media groups, alleging they had encouraged the nationwide protests in January.
Tehran Prosecutor Ali Salehi said the sites were being accused of “creating the conditions” for the unrest.
Former Manoto editor-in-chief Tina Ghazimorad told The Jerusalem Post’s Alex Winston at the time that the move was politically motivated, claiming it was “not a legal act” but “political intimidation.”
Alex Winston contributed to this report.
