Alavi's Account of Summons by the Ministry of Intelligence: We Ask Individuals Not to Fall into the Enemy's Trap

The Iranian Minister of Intelligence states that the summons of individuals by this ministry is conducted "with complete respect, in a proper environment" and that summoned individuals are asked not to fall into the "enemy's trap." According to a report by the "Faraz No" website, which has also been republished on the Kaleme website close to Mir Hossein Mousavi, Mahmoud Alavi criticized the actions of the previous government, adding: "We do not invade the personal lives of people for security, as Islam does not grant us the right to intrude into individuals' privacy for security purposes." Furthermore, according to the Tasnim news agency, Mr. Alavi emphasized on the evening of Tuesday, May 15, in Karaj that the Ministry of Intelligence "does not read minds and does not create disturbances for the people." He clarified: "In the previous government, if we criticized, we were immediately labeled as counter-revolutionaries, which closes the path for criticism." Since the rise of Hassan Rouhani's government, although some political and civil activists have reported a decrease in the Ministry of Intelligence's confrontations with them, some reports indicate the continuation of "summons, interrogations, and threats" against political and civil activists by this ministry. Recently, the Iranian Writers' Association protested against the summons and interrogation of Behtash Abtin, a poet and documentary filmmaker who is a member of this association. According to this association, Behtash Abtin was interrogated for several days about his literary and cinematic activities. Additionally, reports indicate that on Tuesday, April 1, five agents of the Ministry of Intelligence went to Behtash Abtin's home and confiscated over a thousand films, family photos, mobile phones, laptops, and documents from the Iranian Writers' Association during a search of his residence. The Kaleme website, close to Mir Hossein Mousavi, also reported on September 5, 2014, the "role" of the Ministry of Intelligence under Hassan Rouhani's government in "summoning and threatening civil activists." Ali Younesi, the Minister of Intelligence under Mohammad Khatami's government, had previously stated that the Ministry of Intelligence had not yet been "captured" by Hassan Rouhani's government. Mr. Younesi said on October 6, 2014, that by "captured" he meant that the government had not fully "taken control" of the Ministry of Intelligence. In another part of his speech, the Minister of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran severely criticized those who, according to him, "defame" the government, adding that they "create false bulletins and provide them to Friday prayer leaders." He further added: "It is unclear by what religious permission they engage in such actions. Is it not the case that an Islamic government should be preserved through legitimate methods?" Mr. Alavi also stated on February 9, 2015, that "bulletins related to us that are 100 percent false are currently reaching us." Some ministers in Hassan Rouhani's government have protested against the "publication of negative news and reports" in the form of bulletins sent to religious authorities, figures of the Islamic Republic, and military and governmental institutions. For instance, Ali Jannati, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, stated on July 7, 2014, that these bulletins are prepared by certain institutions that use government funds, "but they are completely lying." The Minister of Intelligence of Iran also referred to "bombings in Shiraz on Quds Day" and "bombings in Zahedan and Mashhad" as "enemy plots" that have been "neutralized" by this ministry. Mr. Alavi also reported on November 12, 2014, the arrest of "individuals" who, according to him, intended to carry out bombings in the religious city of Qom during the days of Muharram that year.