{"id":2813,"date":"2020-12-10T11:47:01","date_gmt":"2020-12-10T11:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/en\/?p=2813"},"modified":"2025-05-11T08:05:51","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T08:05:51","slug":"fatawatch-april-june-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/2020\/12\/10\/fatawatch-april-june-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"FATAwatch: April \u2013 June 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

Major social media platforms, especially Instagram \u2013 one of the few international platforms still accessible in Iran \u2013 continue to be a target for Iranian authorities for yet another quarter. While millions of Iranians use Instagram and Telegram (with the help of circumvention tools) everyday Iran\u2019s Cyber Police (FATA) with the help of the judiciary have tried to contain politically or socially subversive activities on these platforms. Police forces summoned, arrested, and charged \u2018influencers\u2019 in yet another wave of crackdowns, who received heavy sentences in an attempt to prevent the posting about their different lifestyles through Instagram. In this environment, many other influencers were either directly threatened with police action, or else subjected themselves to self-censorship in order to avoid this threat.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the second quarter of 2020, which coincided with the first weeks of the Iranian New Year (which started in March) and the introduction of COVID-19 quarantines and lockdowns in Iran, many turned to the online world as an escape or remedy from restrictions imposed on their offline world. As a result, online suppression, restrictions on freedom of expression, interference with citizen\u2019s private lives, and police reactions to criticisms of the government\u2019s COVID-19 response intensified.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During this period gambling websites were also targets of a major crackdown by FATA, resulting in a large number of arrests, especially when it came to websites with high financial turnovers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In a TV interview in April, judiciary spokesperson Gholamhossein Esmaeili once again confirmed the judiciary's aggressive attitude in policing the Internet, <\/span>stating<\/span><\/a> that he considers the internet a part of the \u2018[fabric] of the Islamic Republic of Iran\u2019 which \u2018is disorganised, and parts of it are in the control of outsiders\/foreign entities\u2019. He stated that the National Information Network (NIN) that has been envisioned \u2018has not taken shape yet\u2019, and asked the ICT Ministry to work on its delivery as soon as possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In this report, we focus on how Iran\u2019s police forces and judiciary restricted and violated the fundamental rights of Iranians in online spaces between April and June 2020, as well as documenting other major interventions by these agents into the policy realm.<\/span><\/p>\n

COVID-19 and Publishing \u2018False Information\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, state authorities have taken an increasingly interventionist role to crack down on what they describe as \u2018misinformation\u2019 in online spaces. However, there remains a great deal of ambiguity over the precise scope of the term 'misinformation\u2019, especially when no clear distinction is made between \u2018misinformation\u2019 and \u2018disinformation\u2019. Filterwatch has serious concerns that the police and the judiciary are exploiting this justification for limiting free expression to limit legitimate forms of online expression, and to crack down on government critics.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the first three months of the Iranian calendar year, the nationwide spread of COVID-19\u00a0 did indeed result in the rapid online spread of rumours about the disease and its progression. Rumours included discussions about possible local lockdowns in certain cities, reports on the state of health equipment and hospitals\u2019 readiness, among many other issues. The spread of conversations about such topics were met with a response from the country\u2019s security forces and judiciary.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In April in the cities of <\/span>Mehabad<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Hormozgan<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Mazandaran<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Fars<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Western Azerbaijan<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Kerman<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Kokiloie and Boyer Ahmad<\/span><\/a>, and Tehran, individuals were identified and arrested for \u2018spreading rumours\u2019 about COVID-19. It is unclear how many of those arrested were subsequently charged.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to an <\/span>announcement<\/span><\/a> by the FATA Chief for Fars Province, Colonel Heshmat Soleimani, at least 24 people were arrested in the province for \u2018spreading rumours\u2019 about COVID-19. The Head of FATA Police also <\/span>commented<\/span><\/a> that 118 people were arrested for spreading rumours online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The FATA Chief for Hormozgan <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> the arrest of individuals accused of publishing \u2018inflammatory and false\u2019 comments relating to the province\u2019s lockdown measures, and the closure of petrol stations in Banadar Abbas. These arrests made use of provisions in a resolution by the province\u2019s Security Council, designed ostensibly to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n

The FATA Chief for Rasht Province <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> in May that eight people who had published \u2018false information\u2019 on social media about COVID-19 had been identified and were summoned by the police. He added that \u201csome internet users publish information such as jokes, or because of their worries and anxieties, post articles, videos, or audio recordings on social media. Given the conditions in the online and offline spaces, it can disturb public opinion, which will be met with security and legal forces\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

Misinformation-related arrests in the island of <\/span>Kish<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Markazi<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Fars<\/span><\/a> provinces continued during the month of May.<\/span><\/p>\n

In June, FATA Police for Bushehr <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> the arrests of 119 people who were active online and published information about COVID-19, 30 of whom were referred for prosecution. In the same month, two bakery workers in the city of Zahedan were also <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> for publishing a <\/span>video<\/span><\/a> criticising a flour supplier for the presence of worms in their product on social media, which also showed the details of the supplier of the flour. According to the FATA Chief for the province, the arrest was made following a complaint made to them by the supplier for spreading \u2018misinformation\u2019 about the supplier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

FATA Launches Major Crackdown on Gambling Websites\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Around a year ago, Iran\u2019s ICT Minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi <\/span>said<\/span><\/a>: \u2018I will soon reveal [what is going on] behind the scenes\u2019, referring to how gambling sites are able to make financial transactions. However, no revelations about the behind-the-scenes operations of gambling websites has been made by Jahromi so far, and it remains unclear how gambling websites are able to make financial transactions in Iran, despite legal restrictions. During the first three months of 2020 FATA Police reported that they had identified and \u2018confronted\u2019 some of these sites.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In May, the FATA Chief in Hormozgan Province, Colonel Ali Asghar Eftekhari, <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> that an individual attempting \u2018financial fraud\u2019 by advertising investment opportunities in a gambling website on Instagram had been arrested. In June, the Head of FATA Police, Commander Vahid Majid <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> that 6,157 \u2018sites\u2019 (the use of the word sites here appears to be referencing Instagram profiles or pages operating through pre-existing websites), and 730 websites have been identified as gambling sites. He added that \u201c2,884 of these sites and websites have faced legal action\u201d. The FATA Chief in Semnan Province also <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> the arrest of an individual for setting up a gambling website with a turnover of 60,000,000,000 IRR ($1,425,008.88 USD).<\/span><\/p>\n

In June, the FATA Chief for Ardabil Province <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> that they had identified a couple who had set up and managed a gambling website in order to commit [financial] fraud against its users. The FATA Chief for Ardabil also pointed to the <\/span>identification<\/span><\/a> of 11 individuals operating gambling websites in the province and added that \u201caccording to the legislation on gambling, [it is] illegal in any form, even online, and is subject to Article 708 of the Islamic Penal Code\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Renewed Crackdown on Social Media Influencers<\/b><\/p>\n

During the first few months of the new Iranian calendar year (from 21 March 2020), a crackdown on online \u2018influencers\u2019 intensified. FATA\u2019s National Chief Vahid Majid announced in <\/span>May<\/span><\/a> that \u201cin the event of the publication of illegal materials or those that are against the cultural attitudes of society, transgressors will be confronted\u201d. The crackdown on famous online figures was carried out in the name of the \u201ccampaign to sanitise cyberspace\u2019\u201d, a phrase used <\/span>previously to describe a crackdown of Instagram influencers<\/span><\/a>. In February 2018, following <\/span>comments<\/span><\/a> made by Prosecutor General Mohammad Javad Montazeri threatening influencers, many women and girls deleted their photos showing them without hijab, and subsequently posted photos with full hijab, stating in their user bios that they \u201cfollowed the laws of the Islamic Republic\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to a FATA announcement in April, at least six people were summoned in <\/span>Hormozgan<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Yazd<\/span><\/a> provinces for publishing images and clips containing \u2018offensive\u2019 and \u2018immoral\u2019 content on Instagram. The individuals were said to have been summoned in coordination with the judiciary and some of those summoned had their Instagram pages deleted and were referred to the courts for further measures.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In May, in <\/span>Savojbolagh<\/span><\/a> in Alborz Province, one person was arrested for running channels containing \u2018immoral\u2019 content and \u2018inciting public disorder\u2019. In the same month, the FATA Chief in South Khorasan Province <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> the arrest of an individual who taught dance on Instagram. Additionally the FATA Chief in Yazd Province said that the administrators of two Instagram pages with a combined 50,000 total followers were identified and their details handed to the judiciary for further legal processes. The administrators are accused of promoting \u2018Western lifestyles\u2019 and \u2018degradation\u2019. Similar cases were also reported in Khorramabad and Mazandaran.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the most sensational news of these crackdowns was the prison sentences <\/span>handed<\/span><\/a> to two popular Instagram influencers, Seyyed Ahmad Moein-Shirazi also known as \u201cPicasso Moein\u201d, a kickboxing champion and his wife, Shabnam Shahrokh. In a video posted on Instagram, Moein-Shirazi <\/span>revealed<\/span><\/a> that a 16-year prison sentence from the revolutionary court was handed to him and his wife. The couple were accused of \u2018engaging in anti-government activities\u2019, \u2018spreading corruption\u2019 and \u2018damaging public decency\u2019 and the \u2018publication of vulgar and obscene\u2019 content. The evidence for these charges were taken from the couple\u2019s Instagram accounts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another Instagram celebrity, Alireza Japloghi, an Iranian parkour practitioner was arrested for a <\/span>photo<\/span><\/a> posted Instagram account captioned\u00a0 \u2018Sunrise in Tehran - Sadr Bridge\u2019. In the photos he was performing Parkour moves as well as kissing a girl. The photo went viral across various on social media and received a large amount of attention.<\/span><\/p>\n

On <\/span>20 May,<\/span><\/a> the FATA Deputy for Social Affairs, Colonel Pashaei, also stated that \u2018over 320 people were arrested\u2019 relating to online activities, and that not wearing hijab online constitutes\u2019 inappropriate\u2019 behaviour and will be considered a crime.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The FATA Chief for Eastern Azerbaijan province also <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> the arrest of an individual who had attempted to \u2018lure in and hire young, single women as models, through the Divar platform\u2019. According to the Prosecutor for the city of Amol, a woman was <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> for posting \u2018immoral\u2019 photos online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also in the same month, FATA police force in cities of <\/span>Ilam<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Tehran<\/span><\/a> reported arrests relating to content on their social media, such as a teenage girl posting photos and videos of parties. The administrators of several Telegram channels were also arrested.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Major social media platforms, especially Instagram \u2013 one of the few international platforms still accessible in Iran \u2013 continue to be a target for Iranian authorities for yet another quarter. While millions of Iranians use Instagram and Telegram (with the help of circumvention tools) everyday Iran\u2019s Cyber Police (FATA) with the help of the judiciaryContinue reading \"FATAwatch: April \u2013 June 2020\"<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":2814,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[113],"tags":[74,70,81],"class_list":["post-2813","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cyber-threat-reports","tag-covid-19","tag-irans-cyber-police","tag-judiciary","entry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2813","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2813"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2813\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2814"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2813"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2813"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2813"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}