Activists Threatened: You Will Be Arrested If You Are in Tehran

With three days remaining to the February 11th anniversary of the Islamic revolution (in Iran known as the 22nd of the month of Bahman), the main topic of conversations in Tehran’s streets, taxis and parks are the creation of insecurity for activists and journalists even at their residences and the constant broadcast of contradictory interviews to frighten the public and intimidate protesters not to participate in the gathering.  It seems as if the government has employed all of its energy and power to control the rallies scheduled to take place on Wednesday February 11th and confront the Green Movement’s supporters.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Green Movement and reformist groups have invited the public to participate in the rally and display their identities.  

Reports received from Rooz correspondents in Tehran and other cities indicate that people intend to use 22 Bahman as another opportunity to voice their grievances.  This has prompted the security and intelligence apparatus to use the national media to literally terrorize the public.

One political analyst believes that the regime hoped to have celebrated the Green Movement’s defeat on 22 Bahman after the violent crackdown of the bloody Ashoura religious day in Tehran, mass arrests and the executions of Arash Rahmanipour and Mohammad Reza Alizamani.  In this connection, the government had announced the invitation of more than three hundred foreign correspondents to cover the 22 Bahman rally.  Fearing the realities of the day, however, the government has since suspended the permits of several foreign correspondents.  

Reports indicate that several foreign correspondents and media outlets have been informed informally that their permits to operate in Iran have been suspended effective 18 Bahman.  Meanwhile, the evidence indicates that the ministry of culture intends to divert correspondents to a predetermined location in Azadi square, limiting their reporting to the area confined by the square.  

Many international media outlets doubt the Fars news agency’s report about the presence of three hundred foreign journalists to cover 22 Bahman.  As the reports reveal, no major international correspondents are currently in Iran.  

At the same time, since one week before 22 Bahman, Internet communication has been severely disrupted in Iran, making it extremely difficult to access many websites and email accounts.  The text messaging network has also experienced disruptions.  

The mass arrest of journalists and activists has intensified in recent days as well.  According to analysts, the government is using all resources at its disposal to impose a news boycott on 22 Bahman events if the events unfold in contrast to its wishes.  

In recent days, intelligence officers have contacted journalists and political activists threatening that they will be arrested if they remain at home on the night of 21 Bahman.  One threatened activist has told Rooz, “They told me that it is better for me to leave Tehran on 22 Bahman and not be in Tehran, or otherwise I’ll be arrested.”