Arrest of Operators of Four Telegram Channels on Charges of 'Insulting Islamic Sanctities'

The Islamic Republic's Law Enforcement Force announced on Tuesday that "three operators of Telegram channels insulting religious sanctities and Imams" were arrested in "one of the northern cities" of Iran. Hossein Ramazani, the legal and international affairs deputy of the Cyber Police (FATA), stated on Tuesday, August 9, to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) that these three individuals were the operators of "four Telegram channels" that published "offensive and insulting content against religious sanctities and the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt." Ramazani added that the police discovered that "the operators of these channels were operating within the country" and that the "main operator and one of his accomplices" were arrested on Monday. According to the deputy of FATA, "the third person had fled" but was also arrested on Tuesday. He did not specify the location of the arrests. Ramazani mentioned that "these individuals used Photoshop and face-altering software to publish insulting content against religious sanctities and religious leaders." According to Article 262 of the Islamic Penal Code of Iran, anyone who insults the Prophet of Islam, his daughter, and the 12 Imams of Shiites can be sentenced to death for the crime of 'sabb al-nabi.' However, Article 263 states that "if the accused claims that his statements were made under coercion, negligence, error, or in a state of intoxication or anger, or due to a slip of the tongue or without attention to the meanings of the words or quoting someone else, it is not considered 'sabb al-nabi.'" The note of this article states that "if the insult occurs in a state of intoxication or anger or is quoted from another person and is deemed insulting, it may result in punishment of up to 74 lashes." Millions of people in Iran use internet social networks such as Facebook, Telegram, and Twitter. Some Iranians use these networks to express their opposition or criticisms of Islam and the Islamic Republic. Iranian officials occasionally announce the arrest of users of these networks on charges of insulting religious sanctities or officials. Unlike Twitter and Facebook, which are filtered in Iran, mobile social networks Telegram and Instagram do not face similar issues. Nevertheless, there have been reports of the blocking of some Telegram and Instagram channels and the arrest of activists on these platforms.