Seven Social Media Users Arrested in Fuman Due to Reactions to the Death of Ebrahim Raisi

The public security police in Fuman County, Gilan Province, arrested seven social media users in response to public reactions to the news of Ebrahim Raisi's death and for posting related content and images, on charges of "disturbing public opinion." According to the "Iran Watch" website, the police chief of Fuman County stated on Saturday, June 5, that six men and one woman, active citizens on social media, were identified and arrested in "separate operations" through surveillance and technical measures. Reports indicate that a new wave of summons and arrests of dozens of social media users continues following threats from the Cyber Police and the head of cyber police regarding citizens' reactions to the incident of Ebrahim Raisi's death and his companions in various cities across Iran. In this context, as part of the ongoing threats and arrests of citizens who have expressed their joy on social media, the bank accounts of Shirin Najafi, the sister of Hadith Najafi, one of the victims of protests against the killing of Mahsa Amini in Alborz Province, were "closed by order of legal authorities." Fatemeh Heydari, the sister of the bereaved family of Javad Heydari, another victim of the nationwide protests in 2021, announced that Shirin Najafi's bank accounts were "closed due to reactions to Raisi's death." According to a report by the government news agency "ISNA" on June 2, Mehdi Bakhshi, the prosecutor of Kerman, announced that 288 social media users were identified as "virtual activists and leaders" under the title of "the Psychological Security Committee's response to offenders and disruptors of public psychological security," and in addition to "warnings and phone guidance" for 254 of them, "eight others" were summoned to judicial authorities. Additionally, the police intelligence organization in Golestan Province announced that two media activists were arrested for commenting on Ebrahim Raisi's death. According to the government news agency "Mehr," "two website managers" were arrested for what was described as "spreading insulting examples and rumors" regarding the death of Ebrahim Raisi and his companions. The police intelligence organization in Golestan Province also stated that it would confront those who comment on Raisi's death under the pretext of "disrupting the psychological security of society" through what it called "specialized monitoring and intelligence oversight of activities in cyberspace." In this regard, the newspaper "Ham-Mihan" quoted Vahid Majid, the head of the "Information Production and Exchange Police" known as "FATA," stating that the warnings, summons, and arrests of citizens for expressing opinions about Ebrahim Raisi's death were "in line with cleansing the cyberspace." The joy of Iranians over Ebrahim Raisi's death due to a helicopter crash has been widely reflected on social media, with some users reacting to this incident with humorous phrases and narratives; these reactions have also reached international circles. Previously, several bereaved families reacted to the helicopter crash and Ebrahim Raisi's death by releasing videos of dancing and joy; according to some of them, Islamic Republic officials have threatened some of the bereaved families that "we will arrest you for your reactions." According to reports received by Voice of America and published on social media, the dancing and joy of Iranians outside of Iran in response to Ebrahim Raisi's death continues. The security and judicial apparatuses of the Islamic Republic continue to confront the people for their reactions to Raisi's death. The government's reaction to the public display of joy following Raisi's death includes threats from official institutions and warnings from government supporters in cyberspace, as well as the closure of the Tehran Stock Exchange, cinemas, and sporting events; internet disruptions and disturbances in the subways of western Tehran.