Like all aspects of Iranian life, this quarterly report on the performance of Iran’s Cyber Police, also known as FATA, and the Judiciary has been impacted by the aftermath of Mahsa Jina Amini’s death and the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. This progressive movement brought the issue of women’s rights, particularly the compulsory hijab, to the forefront of public demands in physical and virtual realms. Much of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement’s activities have taken place online, resulting in widespread government repression of online activities.
In addition to the government’s widespread assault on cyberspace, which has led to more severe restrictions than before, we have also seen reports of celebrities who have shown their support for the movement being attacked by the government. During this period, there were frequent reports of individuals being prosecuted on false charges of “online harassment,” as well as arrests related to running dating pages, promoting gambling, publishing “inappropriate content,” and “disturbing public order” by disseminating dissenting opinions and posting “modeling pictures.”
Code Name: Compulsory Hijab
Despite the economic pressure faced by those inside Iranian, with one in five people living in absolute poverty and lacking access to basic necessities, and despite the daily fluctuations in foreign currency prices linked to the ongoing discussions surrounding the JCPOA agreement, which have a direct impact on people’s livelihoods, the most prominent topic of discussion online during the past summer was the issue of “compulsory hijab.” The tragic death of Mahsa Jina Amini in September 2022 reopened an old wound in Iranian society, causing a wave of anger and rage to sweep the nation in response to the government’s systematic discrimination and oppression of women.
Mahsa Jina Amini, a young woman from Saqqez, Kurdistan province, was beaten by Iran’s Morality Police while receiving a hijab warning during a trip to Tehran. She fell into a coma at the police station and tragically died a few days later. Protests in response to her death quickly spread to over fifty cities in Iran shortly after.
Prior to this, during the third quarter of the year, the topic of hijab had already been brought to public attention on numerous occasions. In the physical world, we witnessed multiple instances of people resisting the Morality Police, and footage was shared widely in the virtual world. Meanwhile, in the online space, we also heard about repeated instances of suppression and threats made by the FATA Police and Judiciary against critics of compulsory hijab, which is discussed in more detail below.
On July 8, Tehran’s Public Prosecutor announced the indictment of Faezeh Hashemi, who was charged with “anti-government propaganda” and “insulting the sacred values of Islam.” She received the indictment due to her Instagram live debate with Sadegh Ziba Kalam. During this Instagram live session, Faezeh Hashemi, while criticizing the enforcement of the hijab, praised women and girls who chose not to wear it in public spaces, referring to them as “lionesses.” She also expressed her discontent with the violent treatment of protesters by the security forces. She said, “We cannot protest against Israel as instead, our own country’s actions have caused others to protest against us.”
Shortly after that, on “Hijab and Chastity” day on the calendar of the Islamic Republic, the #notocompulsoryhijab campaign (Persian: #حجاب_بی_حجاب) gained popularity on social media, including Twitter. The campaign involved individuals sharing their experiences in the city without wearing hijab. On July 22, Nazanin Zandieh, a 21-year-old art student, was arrested for participating in this Twitter campaign and publicly expressing her opposition to the compulsory hijab.
Sepideh Rashno’s Story: The Unofficial Beginning of Protests
The arrest and forced confessions of Sepideh Rashno are considered by many as the catalyst for the anger that eventually culminated in the protests following Amini’s death. The incident involved a video shared on social media showing two women arguing on a bus over the issue of compulsory hijab on 16 July. The video depicts a woman in a conservative hijab warning another passenger with “improper hijab,” which escalates into a conflict and results in the conservative woman being forcibly removed from the bus with the help of other passengers. After the video went viral on social media, Rashno was promptly arrested on July 17. On August 20, the Head of the 26th branch of the Tehran Islamic Revolution Court’s declared that Rashno had been indicted and informed of the charges against her, which included “anti-government propaganda” and “encouraging corruption and prostitution.” Before the Judiciary News Agency announced her charges, Rashno had already confessed to them on IRI Broadcasting. Following approximately 40 days of detention, she was released on August 30 after paying 800 million toman bail (estimated 15,000 USD).
On July 29, judicial authorities temporarily banned online activities for Ahmad Abedini, a teacher at the Islamic Seminary of Qom. Mr. Abedini’s recent criticisms of the compulsory hijab on social media led to the issuance of this verdict. During his speech, he asserted that there was no distinction between the Islamic Republic’s imposition of the compulsory hijab and Reza Shah’s Unveiling decree (Kashf-e-hijab) in 1936, which banned women from wearing all Islamic veils, including chadors and headscarves. According to Abedini, both measures created the opposite of their intended effect. Furthermore, drawing upon his research and understanding of Islam, he claimed that the hijab is not such a significant part of the Islamic religion.
On September 6, authorities summoned several women’s rights activists with large followings on Instagram, who had shared posts of themselves without wearing hijab. Some were made to pledge to adhere to the hijab, while others who refused had their accounts closed. In some cases, the authorities posted verses from the Quran about the “consequences of spreading immorality and evil in this world and the hereafter” on their pages. The initiative to monitor online spaces to combat “moral insecurity and indecency” began in 2021. Under this initiative, the law enforcement and FATA Police categorized unveiling online as a criminal offense.
No Need for Forgiveness; Ban Them!
On September 23, Hojjat-ul-Islam Seyyednejad, the Secretary of the Seminary’s Chastity and Hijab Guidance Committee, requested that Iranian television and cinema authorities ban artists and athletes who support the protesters or refuse to wear the hijab. He was alluding to a significant number of female Iranian artists and actresses who shared a picture of themselves without a hijab online as an expression of their solidarity with the demonstrators. In Iranian cinema, the act of female artists not wearing the hijab is seen as a political statement and a violation of the system’s red lines. One of these artists was Katayoun Riahi, a well-known actress who has appeared in numerous historical and religious television series, including “Prophet Joseph.” In a post on her Instagram page, while expressing her support for the nationwide protests, Riahi revealed that she has never wanted to wear the hijab and doesn’t want to deceive herself or her audience by conforming to the compulsory hijab.
Hojjat-ul-Islam Seyyednejad further claimed that these public figures are “not only involved in the act of removing the hijab but also responsible for the deaths of protesters, burning of the Quran, disrespecting the police force and their deaths, and forcibly taking off the hijab of Muslim women.” He called for the prosecution of these celebrities on these charges, which are referred to as “war against God and the state” (moharebeh) in the Islamic Penal Code and could result in a death sentence in many cases.
Moreover, in response to the recent act of removing the hijab by actresses, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance made a direct statement implying that “everyone in the field of culture and art is included under the Islamic Republic’s protection, except those who choose to opt-out.” This suggests that individuals who do not abide by the laws of the Islamic Republic, such as hijab, may not receive a work permit from the ministry.
A Normal Breakfast in Tehran
Just a few days later, on September 30, Donya Rad, a film and television script supervisor, was arrested after sharing a photo on her Twitter account without wearing a hijab while having breakfast in a tea house located in Tehran’s Javadieh district. Rad’s sister stated on her Twitter account, “On Wednesday, following the photo’s publication, security agencies contacted Donya and requested that she provide an explanation.” Donya complied and went to the designated location but was subsequently arrested and taken to the 209 security ward of Evin prison.
Government’s Ire with Celebrities Supporting the Protesters
One of the most notable aspects of the recent protests in Iran was the widespread participation of celebrities and athletes in support of the protesters. In the past, such support was limited to a select few who would engage in charitable actions and take relatively low-risk and general positions, such as calling for an end to executions on their social media pages. However, this time the level of support exceeded the system’s tolerance threshold, resulting in an immediate and severe reaction from the government.
Iran’s government attempted to weaken celebrities’ support by accusing them of serious offenses such as “inciting riots” and “assembly and collusion,” engaging in Quran burning, and participating in the killing of police forces by endorsing or organizing protests on online platforms.
Along with making these broad allegations, the authorities arrested several celebrities. They summoned more to the security agencies, and countless others were warned of potential job loss, license revocation, and even property seizure through official channels. Almost all preachers and Imams leading Friday Prayers, as well as statements and written notes against celebrities in the first week, used a common phrase: “Those who have obtained wealth through the regime and are now disloyal to it must be held accountable and face appropriate consequences.”
Actions against celebrities, both overt and covert, began on September 17. Voria Ghafouri, a football player with Foolad Khuzestan Football Club and a former Captain of the Esteghlal Football Club, experienced repercussions after posting a protest poem written by the famous poet and constitutional revolution freedom advocate Farrokhi Yazdi in response to Amini’s death. As a result, his Instagram account was deleted by the authorities.
Within a week of the nationwide protests that erupted after the death of Amini, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released a statement on September 23 denouncing online activists as “accomplices of the enemy.” The statement called on the judiciary to take strict action and make an example of them.
On the same day, General Naqdi, the Deputy Coordinator of the IRGC, referred to the protests in September 2022 as “chaos” fueled by the “uncontrolled” virtual space and urged authorities to take action to end the “enemy’s influence” in the country’s online sphere.
Hojjat-ul-Islam Seyednejad, the Secretary of the Seminary’s Chastity and Hijab Guidance Committee, shifted blame for the damages and deaths that occurred during the nationwide protests onto celebrities who have spoken out against compulsory hijab. He claimed these celebrities are “hypocritically aligning themselves with opposition networks, despite previously benefiting from the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic.”
Seyyednejad added, “Some celebrities removed their hijabs while others went as far as demanding that national television refrain from broadcasting any footage of them in order to escalate the unrest and motivate others to join the protests.”
Seyyednejad was specifically targeting Mehran Modiri, who posted on his Instagram page expressing his anger about the current situation and requesting that the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (a state-controlled media corporation) refrain from airing any part of the production he was involved in.
Ungrateful Celebrities
Ahmad Khatami delivered Friday prayer sermons in Tehran on 23 September, addressing social media influencers and online personalities. During his sermon, he warned these public figures that if they did not take a stand against the recent protests, they would be viewed as aligned with the “agitators” and face punishment. Khatami also emphasized that they had benefited from the current system and should therefore support it.
On September 26, the Head of the Judiciary, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i, delivered a speech that referred to the online space as an “uncontrolled platform susceptible to enemy abuse and corruption of the youth, and deviant behavior.” He urged the Supreme Council for Cyberspace (SCC) to take necessary measures to regulate and organize online spaces. Following this, he criticized well-known figures who supported the September protests and viewed their actions as encouraging young people to engage in rioting. He accused these famous figures, including actors and athletes, of “gaining their fame with the support of the current system and betraying the people by siding with the enemy during difficult times.” He also claimed that an unspecified so-called “enemy” had used their virtual platforms to disrupt Iranian society. He also warned celebrities who supported the nationwide protests in any way, demanding that “they all pay for both the material and spiritual damage caused to the people and the country.”
Large-Scale Arrests of Celebrity Figures
On September 28, Mehr News Agency, affiliated with The Islamic Advertisement/Development Organization, reported that “the Attorney General had accused several celebrities, including actors and former radio and TV presenters, of committing crimes.” The report also stated that “arrest warrants had been issued for some of these individuals.” Mehr News Agency also reported that “the prosecution was continuing to investigate the unfounded and untrue claims made by other celebrities on various online platforms.”
An hour after the news was released, the Raja News website reported that an arrest warrant had been issued for Hamed Behdad, a popular film and television actor. However, the report also stated that “no action had yet been taken to arrest him.” Behdad had publicly expressed support for the recent protests by sharing a post on his Instagram page.
Mehr News Agency reported on the same day that Mahmoud Shahriari, a former radio and television anchor, had been arrested for posting content on Instagram that was deemed to “incite riots.” The arrest was carried out under a judicial order.
Although it appeared that the plan to arrest and summon a large number of artists and athletes who supported the protests had been initiated, the Kayhan newspaper took an extreme stance on the same day, September 28, by referring to these celebrities as “lackeys of America” and calling for decisive action to be taken against them. Kayhan and other government platforms launched an all-out attack on famous people, considering their assets as a charity given by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Kayhan demanded the confiscation of their properties as a form of “compensation for the damages caused to the country.”
A day later, Borna News, affiliated with the Ministry of Sports and Youth, reported the arrest of Mona Borzouee, a poet and songwriter. The news agency stated that her arrest aligned with the prosecution’s announcement of “crimes against public figures for sympathizing with the enemy online.”
On the same day, on September 29, Hossein Mahini, a former football player at Tehran’s Persepolis Football Club, was arrested for allegedly using his Twitter and Instagram accounts to publish posts supporting the nationwide protests. IRNA News Agency stated that Mahini was charged with “supporting and encouraging riots through social media.”
The Arrest of Shervin Hajipour and Other Celebrities
The arrest of Shervin Hajipour, an underground musician, was one of the most significant events on September 29. In the early days of the nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Jina Amini, a trend emerged on Persian Twitter that started with the word “Baraye,” which translates to “for” in English. These tweets featured different demands and motivations, each serving as a reason for participating in the protests and seeking change.
Hajipour wrote a song with the same name from the most significant tweets in this trend. His song “Baraye” quickly gained popularity and garnered over 40 million views on his Instagram page in less than a week.
On September 29, Hajipour’s video was removed from his page, and a few hours later, news of his arrest was published. Although the news was initially denied, it was later confirmed by his lawyer, Amir Raisian, on October 2.
On September 30th, Mehran Modiri returned to Iran after leaving the country following a post on his Instagram page supporting the protests. According to the Tasnim News Agency, the “relevant institutions” seized his passport upon arrival. A few days later, the established actor, director, and TV producer released a video on his Instagram page, where he retracted his previous stance. His video was well-received by several state media outlets, including Fars News.
Celebrities continued to face attacks from various segments of the system. On that same day, Mohammad-Reza Mirtajodini, a member of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles), labeled the celebrities who had supported the recent protests as traitors to the nation. He further warned that once the unrest subsides and stability returns, Majles would undertake a “revolutionary cleansing” campaign to purge these individuals from public spaces.
On the 30th of September, the Ministry of Intelligence released a statement regarding the recent events in the country, branding celebrities as “egotistic charlatans of cyberspace” who are aiding the nation’s enemy through their actions.
The ministry labeled public figures as “corrupt celebrities or operatives” and viewed their endorsement of nationwide protests as “ineffective and appalling,” attributing it to the impact of the “cyber campaign” by so-called Western powers.
Harassment Disguised as Anti-Bullying Measures and Ongoing Oppression
The Islamic Republic has employed similar tactics in navigating challenging circumstances over the past two decades, regardless of the specific situation. One of their usual approaches involves the government’s brutal and dehumanizing treatment of its citizens and labeling them as “thugs.” The government has consistently subjected these individuals to severe punishment to instill fear among the general public, all while claiming to be preventing violence. Not only are individuals subject to this kind of treatment in-person, they are now being targeted online as well. Among reports on FATA Police, we frequently observe individuals being mistreated under the guise of “combating online bullying and harassment.” However, no specific examples of the risks posed by this bullying have been provided by the authorities. During this period, other prevalent news stories included arrests for offenses such as creating dating profiles, promoting gambling, publishing indecent images, causing public anxiety through criticism, and sharing modeling photos. Here we examine the sequence of events from early July through September 2022, involving interactions between the FATA Police and Judicial system and internet users and online businesses.
July 2 – An individual running a dating channel on Telegram in Bukan, located in West Azerbaijan province, was apprehended and transferred to the judiciary. The individual’s identity remains unknown, and they have been charged with promoting corruption and breaching Sharia law.
July 3 – The cultural and social deputy of the FATA Police announced the deployment of 100 special task forces to “detect and deal with immoral Instagram Live broadcasts.” Furthermore, to achieve this objective, the FATA police will employ intelligent systems technology to monitor conduct that violates Islamic values.
July 9 – A citizen in North Khorasan was arrested on charges of “online harrasment.”
July 12 – In one of the cities in Hamadan province, a 26-year-old individual was arrested on the same charges, but their identity is currently unknown.
July 23 – A citizen in Semnan province was arrested for recording and sharing candid camera prank videos on social media.
July 31 – A citizen in Semnan province was arrested for allegedly posting “indecent images and violating public” morality by promoting their massage services on Instagram.
August 1 – An Instagram influencer with a following of over a million was arrested for advertising gambling websites on their account.
August 3 – The verdict was issued in the case of conservative media activist Vahid Ashtari, who faced separate charges and was tried in two different courts. According to the Judiciary’s Spokesperson, Mr. Ashtari was fined for “spreading disinformation” and “causing harm to others” in the 1058 branch of Criminal Court No. 2 and for spreading disinformation in cyberspace in another branch.
August 9 – A photographer in Khuzestan was arrested for publishing “illegal” pictures on Instagram. However, there is currently no information regarding the specific accusation against this individual and any legal precedents associated with the case.
August 10 – Two individuals in Gilan were arrested for a live broadcast on Instagram. The Head FATA Police in Gilan province reported the arrest of a 29-year-old male and a 23-year-old female, stating that they were arrested due to an “inappropriate Instagram live stream.”
August 16 – The deputy Police Chief for Shazand, Markazi province declared the detention of eight individuals who shared pages online containing “anti-social images.” The identities of these citizens and the platform they were using remain unknown.
August 23 – A citizen was arrested in Gilan for allegedly posting “unusual images” on Instagram.
August 24 – The FATA Police in Markazi province arrested the admins of an Instagram dating page for publishing “inappropriate content.”
August 25 – An amateur model was arrested in Sistan-Baluchistan province for publishing their photos on their personal page and in advertisements on various Instagram pages. Currently, there is no available information regarding the identity or gender of this individual.
August 28 – During a meeting with the Basij resistance district commander in Sanandaj, the Head of Kurdistan’s FATA Police referred to social media as “a platform for enemy propaganda” and requested the use of Basij and IRGC cyber battalions to monitor and control online activities in the province. In return, the Basij commander in Sanandaj asked that the FATA Police train Basij forces to monitor cyberspace.
August 29 – The Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department of Police (FARAJA) announced that six internet gambling gangs had been dismantled since the beginning of this year, resulting in the arrest of 93 individuals.
September 4 – Following the release of numerous videos and reports depicting the chaotic situation of Arbaeen pilgrims at the Iraq border, the Social and Cultural Deputy for FATA Police announced the creation of 55 special task forces to combat what he referred to as “disinformation and rumors” regarding the situation. He also warned that legal action would be taken against those spreading false information about the situation on social media platforms.
September 6 – Three admins of nine Instagram pages, collectively having one million followers, were arrested in Tehran for promoting betting and gambling websites.
September 13 – The FATA Police in North Khorasan province arrested a blogger who was active on Instagram in Bojnord for allegedly posting inappropriate images and content.
September 19 – According to a tweet by Sonita Sarabpour, a technology reporter, Jafar Mohammadi, a member of the board of the Tehran Province Computer Trade Union (Nasr), reported that on September 18, the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice ordered startups to remove all social media posts expressing condolences for the death of Mahsa Jina Amini.
September 26 – The chief of FATA Police in Khuzestan province reported that a citizen was arrested for allegedly spreading false information on Instagram to create public unrest against a provincial official.
The Legal Facade of Government Measures
Legal shortcomings or arbitrary interpretations can be identified in all 35 civil rights violations cited in this report. These incidents highlight that, within the judicial system of the Islamic Republic, justice is equated with oppression for all.
Regardless of whether a person is a celebrity or an ordinary citizen in Iranian society, they are subject to the Islamic Penal Code, and may face legal consequences, although media attention may bring greater attention to the cases of celebrities and public figures. However, both groups face different degrees of illegality and suffer from injustice under the same legal system.
In many cases, the law regarding “moral crimes” in online spaces is vague. In other cases, these accusations are determined by comparing them to similar offenses that occur in the real world, which is tied to the interpretation of the law enforcement and the Judiciary.
The recent widespread arrest and summoning of media figures and celebrities for online activities has revealed significant legal issues. According to the law, a crime must involve a physical act rather than publishing an article to be considered a crime. However, there have been instances, particularly in recent cases, where individuals have been arrested for publishing an article online, indicating a trend toward criminalizing online expression. Another concern is the classification of virtual space and its content under the law. If virtual space is regarded as a form of media, then its crimes should be handled by the media court, and its publishers should be subject to the press law. And if virtual space is not considered a form of media, its crimes may be subject to the political crime bill. Still, in reality, virtual activists are being arbitrarily targeted and labeled as potential or national security threats. The comprehensive implementation of the “User Protection Bill,” along with extensive filtering and the authorities’ access to users’ data in local apps, has further made online spaces a part of the moral realm of the Islamic Republic.
While Filterwatch is dedicated to documenting the government’s harmful measures online, additional input and information from our readers would help to provide more comprehensive and widespread coverage of these events. If you have faced any form of these issues online or offline, or if you have information about the identity of blocked pages or their administrators, sharing this information with us can be a significant step toward uncovering the truth. We need your help to identify individuals who have been labeled derogatorily by the government on the FATA police website as “social unrest inciter,” “irreverent,” “vulgar,” “deviant,” and “immoral.” We can move beyond these disparaging labels by discovering their real names and identities of those whose rights are ignored as they hold views or live lifestyles that do not align with the Islamic Republic’s desired norms and values. You can contact us via email at [email protected] or via Twitter and Instagram @Filterbaan.
