Iran's Prosecutor: The Espionage of Eight Environmental Activists is Certain

On Thursday, March 7, Iran's Prosecutor General Mohammad Jafar Montazeri labeled detained environmental activists as "spies," stating that their espionage is "certain" based on evidence and awaits court review. Eight activists, including Amir Hossein Khaleghi, Hooman Jokar, Sam Rajabi, Taher Ghadirian, Niloufar Bayani, Sepideh Kashani, Morad Tahbaz, and Abdolreza Kouhpayeh, were arrested last year by the IRGC's intelligence organization on charges of "espionage for foreigners," a claim denied by the Ministry of Intelligence and the Supreme National Security Council, yet insisted upon by the judiciary and the IRGC. The case has been overshadowed by the death of Kavous Seyed Emami, head of the Persian Wildlife Foundation, who died in IRGC custody, with officials claiming it was a suicide. The detained activists also face charges of "corruption on earth," which could lead to the death penalty. Three court sessions have been held regarding their charges, all of which were closed to the public, attended only by "trusted" lawyers of the judiciary. Montazeri also addressed the Islamic Republic's policies regarding cyberspace, asserting that "shutting down the virtual space is not on the agenda" but rather it should be managed. He noted a 300% increase in internet fraud this year compared to last year, with cybercrime in Kerman province rising by 85%. He warned that media can shift a country's direction using social networks and the internet, emphasizing the need for managing media spaces while preserving differing opinions. Judicial officials have repeatedly criticized the Ministry of Communications for not implementing filtering directives, leading to a lawsuit against Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi by the prosecutor's office and "two thousand residents of Ahvaz," which could result in a suspension from public service.