Observation of more than 1300 websites and arrest of 320 media activists since the outbreak of corona virus over Iran

Human Rights in Iran – Saturday, May 9th 2020/ Since the beginning of the prevalence of corona virus pandemic, at least 320 social network activists were arrested and also 1300 websites that cover the news were placed under security forces surveillance. After being detained, charged and the formation of judicial cases, the detainees were transferred to security detentions or released temporarily.

According to Human Rights in Iran citing Fars (News Agency), on Saturday, May 9th 2020, Hossein Ashtari, the commander of the Law Enforcement Force of IRI (NAJA) announced that since the beginning of the outbreak of corona virus in the country, 1300 websites was identified by Cyber Police officers and 320 social network activists were arrested by security forces because of spreading news related to corona virus in Iran.

During a meet with Yusef TabatsbaeivNejad, the representative of Ali Khamenei, And the leader of mid-day congregational Friday prayers in Isfahan, Ashtari said: ” After the outbreak of corona virus, the Law Enforcement Force in addition to it’s own natural mission, has entered several fields and sections “.

This senior security official of Iran also said: “One of the issues that had caused the concerns of the public opinion the first days, was the cyberspace that the Cyber Police confronted with people who rumored in this space and identified more than 1300 websites and also arrested 320 people “.

Hossein Ashtari announced the arrest of more than 320 social network activists in a status that Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly acclaimed in his talks that in Iran no citizen has been prosecuted and arrested because of their criticism, however such wrathful and arbitrary treatments and suppression and escalating security atmosphere inside Iran reveals the fact that the IRI rulers are the big masters of fallacy, sophistication and arbitrary interpretations.

The suppression of the social network activists and the imposition of restrictions on their civil rights are among the most flagrant human rights violations of freedom of expression illustrated in UDHR article 19.

Article 5 of the Criminal Procedure Code stipulates that the accused shall be informed of the charges and provide access to a lawyer as soon as possible. Other defensive rights are mentioned in law, but extrajudicial actions taken by the security services violate the laws that they themselves drafted and claim to be enforced.

Individuals have the right to access a fair trial by an impartial tribunal, as enshrined in international human rights instruments, as well as article 10 of the UDHR and article 14 of ICCPR.

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