24 Social Media Activists Arrested in Gilan on Charges of 'Inciting Public Disorder'

The police chief of Gilan announced the arrest of 24 social media activists in 9 cities of the province by public security police. Azizollah Maleki, the police chief, stated that these individuals were charged with 'intending to disturb public opinion and incite public disorder and security.' They were arrested in the cities of Rasht, Roudbar, Amlash, Fuman, Lahijan, Soume'eh Sara, Rudsar, Langeroud, and Astaneh Ashrafiyeh. Iranian officials often do not provide specific evidence for such accusations. The news agency HRANA reported that the Iranian government has arrested at least 292 protesters and civil activists in the past 50 days, from the beginning of Mordad to September 23 of this year. On Friday, September 15, Maleki claimed that 'a large number of tools and instruments of crime' were also discovered at the suspects' residences, without explaining the nature of these tools. He referred to the detainees as operators of social media pages who, according to him, were 'planning gatherings, creating chaos, and inciting public opinion to create insecurity.' Concurrently, Human Rights Watch emphasized in a statement that Iranian officials have intensified the repression of dissent through intimidation, arrests, and prosecution. On August 16, the Gilan Intelligence Department also arrested several women's rights activists and political activists in the province, claiming without any evidence that these individuals intended 'sabotage actions.' The UN Human Rights Council's fact-finding committee recently expressed 'deep concern' regarding the escalation of repression against girls and women and 'revenge' against protesters and the families of victims, in a statement on the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini. The United States has repeatedly criticized the Iranian government's increased security pressures on the people and families seeking justice in Iran. Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, emphasized on Thursday, September 15, that 'the Iranian regime cannot force the people of Iran into silence and intimidate them.' He added, 'The world is watching the conditions of these families and the ongoing intimidation of journalists and the repression of peaceful protesters, and we will continue to carefully consider any actions that may be appropriate in response.'