Ahmad Khatami: 'Virtual Space Rioters' Were the Leaders of Recent Protests

Continuing the statements of figures close to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic regarding the role of the internet and social networks in recent unrest, Ahmad Khatami, spokesman for the Assembly of Experts, also referred to 'rioters' in virtual space as the leaders of the recent protests on Thursday, January 25. In an interview with the IRIB news agency, Khatami reported on a meeting of the Assembly of Experts' board with the internal commission of this assembly regarding the recent protests. He stated: 'Two issues were raised: one was the problems and protests of the people, which were sometimes justified, and the Assembly of Experts, as representatives of these people, feels obligated to pursue these legitimate demands. The second issue raised was the disturbances, which were certainly exploited by anti-revolutionaries, and we must take measures to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.' Tehran and more than 100 cities in Iran witnessed protests against the economic situation and government policies for a week in early January of this year. During these widespread protests, harsh slogans were directed against the leaders and domestic and regional policies of the Islamic Republic. At least 22 people were killed and thousands were arrested during these protests. Meanwhile, some supporters of President Hassan Rouhani accuse conservatives of organizing the initial protests in Mashhad. Khatami further stated: 'As the spokesman for the board, I cannot overlook the fact that all members of the meeting were concerned about the virtual space. Members of the Assembly of Experts explicitly stated that the command of these disturbances was in the hands of virtual space rioters.' In the rhetoric of Islamic Republic officials, especially conservatives, 'fitna' is a term used for protests against the results of the 2009 presidential election. Following the expansion of recent protests in Iran, several officials of the Islamic Republic referred to the protesters' use of Telegram and Instagram as a threat to national security. These networks were filtered as protests spread, but after a while and with the end of the unrest, these two networks were unblocked again. The spokesman for the Assembly of Experts added: 'A healthy, desirable, and favored virtual space is good, but a virtual space that is a platform for foreigners is a rabid dog, and if this rabid dog is unleashed, it will bite again, and officials must be cautious in this area.' Khatami also stated that in this meeting, all those who worked to 'resolve this turmoil, especially the police, were appreciated,' and added: 'For the future, a warning was given to be careful that no mischief from enemies occurs.' Since Hassan Rouhani came to power, there has always been a disagreement between his government and the judiciary over filtering these networks. After the recent protests, political factions, military and security officials, Friday prayer leaders, and government officials have taken various positions in defense of or against the restriction of social networks. In this context, Ahmad Jannati, Secretary of the Guardian Council and head of the Assembly of Experts, also reported on a 'several-hour' meeting of the Supreme Leader with some 'experts' in virtual space and added that following this meeting, 'an action will be taken.' Jannati also stated that 'the virtual space is a calamity that has befallen us, and if they had controlled the virtual space, it would not have come to this point. I have said that it is not possible to completely block the virtual space, but we can slow it down.' The blocking of Telegram in Iran has led to protests from many human rights organizations, and the U.S. government, in new sanctions against several Iranian individuals and entities, has sanctioned the Supreme Council of Cyberspace of Iran, the Cyber Defense Center of the Revolutionary Guards, and several other entities for their role in restricting Iranian users' access to the internet and international media. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Campaign in Iran recently reported in a 75-page report an increase in the Islamic Republic's 'capability' to 'block,' 'censor,' and 'monitor the internet' in Iran. This report, published on January 10 under the title 'Gates of Control; Internet Policy in the Hassan Rouhani Government,' examines the role of Rouhani's government, institutions under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and intelligence and security organizations in restricting Iranian users' access to the internet and interfering in their privacy.