In recent days, security agencies in Kurdish cities have unlawfully summoned a significant number of civil, political, and human rights activists and have threatened them against engaging in any political activity—including writing articles, giving interviews, or disseminating information—outside the control of state institutions, particularly regarding the political and security consequences of Israel’s attack on Iran.
Hana Human Rights Organization has learned that, as part of the ongoing systematic repression in Kurdish cities in the aftermath of the Iran-Israel war, a considerable number of political and human rights activists have been summoned and threatened by security forces. These agents have explicitly demanded that the individuals refrain from making any statements—either written or in interviews with the media—regarding the implications of the Israeli attacks on Iran. According to eyewitness accounts from various Ministry of Intelligence offices across Kurdistan, security officers have forced political activists and former political prisoners to sign ambiguous legal commitments, warning them against any form of political activity.
It is worth noting that following the Islamic Republic of Iran’s repeated security and military defeats in the 12-day war with Israel, a new wave of harsh crackdowns against citizens—particularly in Kurdistan, and even against border couriers (kolbars)—has begun. According to credible international reports, in the wake of Israeli airstrikes, the Islamic Republic has lost effective sovereign control over its airspace, which is now dominated by the Israeli Air Force. In addition to this loss of aerial control, Iran’s security agencies are also facing increased internal infiltration and, under the pretext of arresting individuals allegedly linked to Israel, have been carrying out mass arrests of citizens without any legal safeguards or due process.
The summonses issued by the Ministry of Intelligence offices have been made illegally and by telephone. Even under Chapter III of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic, such actions are unlawful and violate fundamental civil rights. However, based on Ruling No. 336 dated 10 October 2004 by the Administrative Court of Justice, the Ministry of Intelligence’s directive permitting telephone summonses without judicial authorization was deemed legally valid. Since that date, Intelligence Ministry agents have been summoning citizens without any judicial oversight, subjecting them to severe pressure and threats.
Hana Human Rights Organization strongly condemns this new wave of unlawful summonses in Kurdish cities and expresses deep concern over the recent implementation of the newly amended law intensifying the punishment for espionage, which was once again revised and passed by the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament) in recent days.
This legislation contains numerous flaws and vaguely expands the definition of espionage in an excessive and ambiguous manner, criminalizing a wide range of activities. In criminal law, this legislative method is referred to as “expansive criminalization,” a model typically used by authoritarian regimes to broaden the scope of crimes deemed harmful to state interests. For example, in the final years of the previous Syrian regime, the government significantly expanded the legal definition of criminal acts against the Assad regime, criminalizing almost any citizen behavior deemed oppositional.
Hana Human Rights Organization will continue to closely monitor and report on the human rights situation in various Kurdish cities, especially in the aftermath of the 12-day war.