Criminal Charges Filed Against Two Media Activists for Alleged 'Threat to Community's Psychological Security'

The judiciary of the Islamic Republic has continued its restriction on freedom of expression by filing a case against two social media activists. According to the CEO of the state-run news agency Mizan, affiliated with the judiciary, the Tehran prosecutor's office has filed charges against two media activists on the grounds of 'threatening the psychological security of the community.' Mehdi Kashtdar, the CEO of this state media, wrote on the social media platform X, which the Islamic Republic has blocked for users in Iran but is used by government officials, that the legal case against these two citizens was initiated 'following the publication of content by two media and virtual activists' that allegedly 'threatened the psychological security of the community.' Pressure on journalists and citizens expressing their opinions on social media has been steadily increasing by the institutions of the Islamic Republic in Iran. For instance, following the escalation of disputes between Israel and the Islamic Republic and its proxy forces in the region, and the reactions of Iranian users on social media regarding this issue, the IRGC's intelligence organization issued a statement criminalizing users' comments as 'support for Israel' on social media. Additionally, after the announcement of the death of Ebrahim Raisi and his companions in a helicopter crash in the Arasbaran heights in East Azerbaijan, in response to the joyful reactions of Iranians inside and outside the country, the officials of the Islamic Republic resorted to threatening and detaining citizens in Iran, including the arrest of Reza Babernajad, the brother of the protesting deceased Mehdi Babernajad. Recently, a newspaper in Iran revealed that the Islamic Republic's officials had blocked the mobile phone SIM cards of several journalists and social media activists without prior notice, claiming 'punishment and crime prevention.' These restrictions are not limited to journalists and social media activists but also target other groups, including lawyers. For example, Khosrow Alikordi, a lawyer, faced charges such as 'spreading falsehoods through computer systems and failing to maintain secrets' after informing about his clients' cases, leading to legal action and imprisonment. The situation reflects a broader crackdown on dissent and freedom of expression in Iran.