CAIRO (AP) – The Iranian government is intensifying its crackdown on dissent, detaining the family members of opposition figures living in exile and threatening to seize their properties. Activists and analysts report that this latest wave of repression is a response to the ongoing war with the United States and Israel, which has amplified scrutiny on anyone attempting to communicate with foreign media or activists.
Since the onset of the war and following massive nationwide protests against the Islamic theocracy earlier this year, Iran has restricted internet access, complicating the efforts of activists to document the government's actions. Human rights watchdogs contend that security forces have killed thousands of protesters amid these ongoing demonstrations.
On March 15, Iranian intelligence agents detained the brother of Hossein Razzagh, an exiled political activist who fled to Europe the previous year. Razzagh shared that his brother, Ali, was taken from his home in Tehran without any political involvement, signaling a clear attempt to exert pressure on Razzagh himself. Ali managed to make a brief phone call to his wife from a detention center operated by Iran's Intelligence Ministry but has since lost all contact. Razzagh indicated that the intelligence ministry claimed they were reviewing Ali's contacts, hinting at the psychological warfare tactics employed against dissidents.
In another instance, Behnam Chegini, an activist currently in France, reported that his 20-year-old niece was detained for a week starting March 10. After she returned from Tehran, where her university had closed due to the ongoing conflict, she was apprehended at her parents' home in Arak. She was released on bail but remains under a travel ban, with Chegini stating that her detention was linked to their familial connection.
Sareh Sedighi, another activist who fled following the overturning of her 2021 death sentence, described how Iranian authorities detained her mother in Urmia last month, raising concerns about her mother's health condition as she requires daily insulin. In a similar vein, Mahshid Nazemi, a former political prisoner now residing in France, revealed that at least one of her friends had also been detained and questioned about her connections.
Additionally, the Iranian judiciary has implemented property seizures targeting public figures who criticize the government, conducting this under a new anti-espionage law established during last year’s brief conflict with Israel. A judiciary spokesperson announced on March 31 that over 200 indictments for confiscations had been issued or were underway. Borzou Arjmand, an Iranian actor residing in California, learned that his assets in Iran had been seized, following his support for the protests in 2022. He emphasized that the government's pressure aims to silence the Iranian diaspora and prevent their voices from reaching the world.
The authorities' crackdown has drawn severe warnings from Iranian security and judicial officials, indicating that any renewed anti-government demonstrations would be met with lethal force. State media routinely label arrested individuals as “mercenaries” or “agents” of foreign powers, employing this rhetoric to delegitimize opposition efforts. Reports suggest that numerous individuals have been detained since the renewed conflict began on February 28, according to rights groups such as Iran Human Rights, which tracks detentions using both insider information and state media reports.
One of the notable detentions includes that of human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was apprehended from her home in Tehran after previously being released on bail for health issues. As conditions within crowded prisons worsen, concerns arise about the potential impacts of military strikes on judicial institutions in Iran.
In light of these dire circumstances, Iranian opposition figures abroad are working to unify their fragmented efforts. Ahead of the conflict, Razzagh and others began planning an opposition conference in London, dubbed the Iran Freedom Congress, aiming to consolidate various pro-democracy groups. Razzagh's advocacy represents a coalition of voices seeking a political transition in Iran amidst an increasingly hostile environment.
This intensified governmental repression poses significant challenges to the Iranian opposition. Activists contend that the ongoing conflict exacerbates their struggles and that Iranian citizens are caught in a detrimental situation, subject to pressure from both their government and foreign military actions.
