{"id":3273,"date":"2021-09-30T14:15:47","date_gmt":"2021-09-30T14:15:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/en\/?p=3273"},"modified":"2025-05-11T08:05:50","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T08:05:50","slug":"fatawatch-april-june-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filter.watch\/english\/2021\/09\/30\/fatawatch-april-june-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"FATAwatch: April – June 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

This edition of FATAwatch covers the second quarter of 2021, which falls between April to June 2021. The coverage period coincided with Iran\u2019s presidential elections held on 18 June, which resulted in a win for Iran\u2019s then Head of the Judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi. Public engagement with the election was limited, resulting in a historically low <\/span>voter turnout<\/span><\/a> of 48.8%. Raisi\u2019s election win has caused major concern for human rights activists and organisations in light of\u00a0 his <\/span>involvement<\/span><\/a> in a \u201cdeath commission\u201d which ordered the execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988. A number of Human Rights organisations have <\/span>called<\/span><\/a> for an investigation into his role in the executions following his arrival in office.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The lack of public interest meant that the election process went ahead without any major incidents and internet disruptions, apart from a <\/span>localised internet shutdown <\/span><\/a>in the city of Yasuj in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province. Despite the seemingly calm election period, a number of arrests were made by Iran\u2019s Cyber Police, FATA, in connection with the \u201cpublication of false information and rumours\u201d online relating to the elections and the presidential candidates.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

During this period there were a large number of arrests in connection with the production and publication of \u201cimmoral and vulaguar\u201d online content. These vague charges were used by FATA Police to target individuals for posts and content on personal social media pages\u00a0 deemed to be \u201cagainst social norms\u201d, as well as accounts using social media for commercial purposes such as the promotion of\u00a0 products and services. Instagram and Telegram continued to be the platforms with the most number of mentions, unsurprising given their large user base in Iran, despite authorities efforts to promote the use of domestic alternatives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There were also a few cases of arrests in connection with bitcoin mining and cryptocurrency sales during this quarter. The arrests come as in May this year, former President Rouhani placed a <\/span>ban<\/span><\/a> on cryptocurrency mining for four months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Online betting and gambling also continued to be a focus for FATA Police as a number of administrators behind the websites, as well as those promoting them were identified and arrested. There were also a number of reports of gambling and betting \u201cnetworks\u201d with high financial turnovers during this quarter as being identified and \u201cdisbanded.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Publication of \u201cFalse Information and Rumours\u201d<\/b><\/h2>\n

On 5 April political prisoner and activist, Zohreh Saroo, <\/span>served<\/span><\/a> a sentence of 74 lashes, which had already been paid off as a financial fine instead, prior to being released on furlough from Gharchak prison. According to the women\u2019s rights organisation, Bidarzani, Saroo was threatened to \u201chave her furlough revoked\u201d if she did not serve the lashings. Saroo was sentenced to three years imprisonment for \u201cinsulting the leadership and anti-government propaganda\u201d as well as four months of \u201ceffective work\u201d for Basij forces and \u201cstudying the interpretation of Surah -Al Hujurat\u201d for her online activities, includging on Instagram.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to a <\/span>tweet<\/span><\/a> on 22 April\u00a0 from Mohammad Ali Kamfirouzi, an Iranian lawyer based in Iran, posted a copy of a court order for 36 lashes for two of his clients for \u201cpublishing false information with the aim of disrupting public opinion\u201d on the messaging app Telegram.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Kamifirouz, his clients, Milad Nazari and Shabir Hosseini Nick, received an\u00a0 \u201cunlawful sentence\u201d for publishing \u201ccritical statements on a university Telegram channel.\u201d Kamifirouz added that the sentence \u201cis not prescribed by law\u201d for a charge of publishing \u201cfalse information.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Human Rights News Agency (HRANA), on 18 May, Rouzbeh Piri, an Azerbiajani Turk activist was <\/span>issued<\/span><\/a> a fine of 50,000 IRR for \u201cpublishing false information online.\u201d The fine relates to Piri\u2019s online post in relation to the \u201cmistreatment and toruture\u201d of his brother who had previously spent time in prison.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to HRANA on 13 June a man was <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> in the city of Ahvaz in Khuzestan province and was taken to an unknown location following videos of him circulating on social media alleging that Ebrahim Raisi\u2019s Election Headquarters had been forcing sellers at the fruit and vegetable market to \u201cmake forced donations to the campaign.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On 19 June FATA Police reported the <\/span>arrest<\/span><\/a> of three people for publishing \u201cfalse news about election candidates\u201d online. FATA Police also added that the people arrested \u201cadmitted\u201d to their crimes during the investigation, including \u201cdisrupting public opinion\u201d and \u201cquestioning the legitimacy of the elections\u201d using \u201cold and edited photos\u201d as well as \u201cspreading rumours.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Publication of \u201cImmoral, Vulgar, and Anti-Social Content\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

On 8 April FATA Police for South Khorasan province <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> the arrest of the administrator of an Instagram page selling clothing and accessories using \u201cillegal\u201d adverts which went against \u201csocial norms.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On 13 April it was <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> that a \u201cspecial FATA Police task force\u201d arrested an undisclosed number of people behind the production and publication of security camera footage showing \u201cscenes of theft and robbery of cars and mobile phones\u201d. According to FATA Police, the group also recreated \u201cscenes of murder and physical altercations in public.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The next day on 14 April FATA Police for Yazd province <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> the arrest of the administrator of a Telegram channel which published links to \u201cvulgar groups and channels on Telegram.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the same day, a woman was <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> in Pardis, Tehran, for posting photos of her piercing work on Instagram in order to gain customers for her business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0On 17 April the Head of FATA Police for West Azerbaijan <\/span>stated<\/span><\/a> that an individual was arrested for sharing \u201cimmoral content\u201d on Telegram. \u00a0<\/span>Also on 17 April it was<\/span> reported<\/span><\/a> that a person was arrested in Ardabil province for producing \u201cchallenge videos\u201d and posting them online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On 20 April FATA Police for Alborz province <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> an individual for posting \u201cimmoral photos\u201d on Instagram.\u00a0<\/span>On the same day in Kurdistan province a person was <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> for posting \u201cimmodest photos and content\u201d on an Instagram page with over 1,000 followers.<\/span><\/p>\n

On 26 April FATA Police for the capital city of Tehran <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> the administrator of an Instagram page for posting \u201cimmoral images.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On 16 May one person was <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> by FATA Police in Ilam province for posting \u201cprivate photos of teenagers and young people in inappropriate and immoral contexts\u201d on Instagram.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On 14 June Elaheh Adimi, a journalist based inside Iran<\/span> tweeted<\/span><\/a> that Iranian artist Ali Mirzaei had been arrested and there was no information on his whereabouts. According to Adimi, he was arrested for posting his artwork on Instagram which included \u201cradical and critical paintings on bank notes.\u201d All of Mirzaei\u2019s Instagram posts have been removed from his page. There is currently a single post on Mirzaei\u2019s Instagram stating that the page has been \u201cblocked following illegal activities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On 16 June FATA Police for Gilan province <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> that a number of people were arrested in connection with publishing \u201cimmoral photos and videos\u201d relating to \u201cmassage therapy.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The next day on 17 June FATA Police for South Khorasan <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> the arrest of an individual behind the sale of \u201cimmoral videos on Instagram.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On 24 June FATA Police for Bushehr province <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> that the administrator of an Instagram page had been arrested for posting \u201cimmoral\u201d Instagram live content.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On 29 June an undisclosed number of people were <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> by FATA Police for Semnan province for publishing \u201cimmoral videos\u201d and sharing them on WhatsApp.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Online Betting and Gambling\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

FATA Police for South Khorasan province reported the <\/span>arrest<\/span><\/a> of an individual on 11 April for \u201cadvertising gabmling and betting sites'\u201d via a Telegram channel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alsp on 11 April\u00a0 in the capital city of Tehran, FATA Police reportedly <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> the administrators of two Telegram channels \u201cwith 700,000 followers\u201d which \u201cpromoted gambling and betting sites.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On 27 April FATA Police for Kohgeluyer and Boyerahmad reportedly<\/span> arrested<\/span><\/a> three people behind a betting website which \u201centiced teenagers and younger people '' into taking part in online betting and gambling.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On 1 May Iran\u2019s Head of FATA Police Vahid Majid <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> that \u201cthree gangs behind a number of betting and gambling sites\u201d were identified. According to Majid, 34 people were arrested in relation to their activities in these \u201cgangs.\u201d He added that the networks had an estimated 21,650 billion IRR.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On 19 May FATA Police for Eastern Tehran <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> the disbanding of a five person \u201conline betting and gampling gang\u201d and the arrest of a man and a woman in connection with the network.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On 24 May an undisclosed number of people behind a betting website in north Tehran were <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> and had their electronic devices confiscated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cryptocurrency and Cryptomining\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

On 31 May two people were <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> by FATA Police in Bushehr province for \u201ccommitting fraud by selling and buying cryptocurrency.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

On 7 June FATA Police for Lorestan province <\/span>reported<\/span><\/a> the discovery of a \u201cBitcoin mining farm\u201d in Khorramabad. One person was arrested and 36 \u201cmining devices \u201c were confiscated following the discovery according to FATA Police.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sale of Fake or Unlicensed Medications\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

According to the country\u2019s Head of FATA Police, Colonel Vahid Majid on 2 June \u201cover 500 cases'' in relation to \u201cfake or unlicensed medications\u201d were <\/span>identified<\/span><\/a> as part of \u201cOperation Panjia 14.\u201d According to Majid, 50% of the cases were found on Instagram, 17% on Telegram, and\u00a0 30% were related to advertising websites.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the same day FATA Police for Tehran reported the<\/span> arrest<\/span><\/a> of the administrator of a Telegram channel with 189,000 followers attempting to sell \u201crare and hard to find medications.\u201d According to FATA Police the person had 54,000 of such medical items with them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On 8 June the administrator of another Telegram channel was <\/span>arrested<\/span><\/a> by FATA Police in the capital city of Tehran for attempting to \u201cbuy and sell fraudulent COVID-19 medication.\u201d\u00a0 According to FATA Police the person had \u201cover 300 of such medical products.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This edition of FATAwatch covers the second quarter of 2021, which falls between April to June 2021. The coverage period coincided with Iran\u2019s presidential elections held on 18 June, which resulted in a win for Iran\u2019s then Head of the Judiciary, Ebrahim Raisi. Public engagement with the election was limited, resulting in a historically lowContinue reading \"FATAwatch: April – June 2021\"<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":3274,"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":[80,56],"class_list":["post-3273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cyber-threat-reports","tag-fata","tag-fatawatch","entry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t