Criminalization of Reporting on Israel's Retaliatory Attack; Tehran Prosecutor's Office Files Charges Against a Media Outlet and Several Users

The Tehran Prosecutor's Office has filed charges against a news website for what it termed 'anti-security coverage' of regional developments and has initiated legal cases against several social media users. The judiciary-affiliated news agency, Mizan, reported on Saturday, November 5, without naming the media outlet, that this action was taken due to 'publication of news contrary to national and security interests' regarding regional developments in the 'past days and nights.' Some individuals have been warned, while legal cases have been opened against others. Earlier, the Organized Crime Investigation Center of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced in a statement that any 'sending of images or news' about Israel's retaliatory attacks on the Islamic Republic's positions would be considered a crime for 'anti' media. In recent days, 'Freedom House' has identified the Islamic Republic as the 'third most repressive government for internet freedom in the world.' Iranian officials have previously criminalized reporting and commenting on daily events in Iran. The Freedom House report noted that Iranian officials criminalized any content supporting protests, boycotting elections, or criticizing government-selected candidates ahead of the vote to determine a successor to Ebrahim Raisi this summer. Additionally, following the second round of missile attacks by the Islamic Republic towards Israel in October, the IRGC's intelligence organization criminalized user comments as 'support for Israel' on social media and urged Iranians to 'spy' on each other. The criminalization of publishing images or comments about regional events comes amid Israeli military attacks on Islamic Republic positions, which were reported by citizens on social media, and news sources reflected the images shared by citizens. The retaliatory attack by Israel on Islamic Republic positions, including military bases and missile sites across various regions in Iran, has sparked widespread reactions among Iranian social media users, with many emphasizing that this is not Iran's war but the war of Ali Khamenei's government, and the 'delusional Iran-selling regime' is caught in a chain reaction trap. Navid Mohibi, a political analyst, stated that assessing the actual damage from Israel's attacks on the Islamic Republic will take time. Joe Biden expressed hope that Israel's attack on the Islamic Republic's military positions would mark the end of hostilities. There has been widespread support from American lawmakers for Israel following the attack on the Islamic Republic's positions in Iran. International reactions to Israel's attacks on the Islamic Republic's positions have also been noted, with reports indicating that government entities in Iran have halted 'currency exchanges.' The Washington Post reported that the attacks were designed to minimize casualties and prevent escalation of tensions.