Iranian Government Targets Opposition Worldwide
3 December 2009 Posted By Lloyd Chebaclo
The Wall Street Journal reported today on an extremely troubling development in the Iranian government’s efforts to silence its critics in the continued aftermath of the disputed June elections–the regime is reportedly attempting to extend its crackdown beyond Iran’s borders to the Iranian diaspora abroad.
“Interviews with roughly 90 ordinary Iranians abroad — college students, housewives, doctors, lawyers, businesspeople — in New York, London, Dubai, Sweden, Los Angeles and other places indicate that people who criticize Iran’s regime online or in public demonstrations are facing threats intended to silence them.”
“Although it wasn’t possible to independently verify their claims, interviewees provided consistently similar descriptions of harassment techniques world-wide.”
In one case, a young Iranian-American engineering student received an email threatening his family should he continue to criticize the Iranian government. He dismissed the threat as a joke until his father was arrested at his home in Tehran and told his son could “no longer safely return to Iran.
Other interviewees said they were questioned at airports, scrutinized at passport control in Iran about their foreign ties, forced to log in to their Facebook accounts, and some had their passports confiscated for their criticisms of the Iranian government’s handling of this summer’s elections.
This shameful campaign is further evidence that the Iranian government is mindful of lessons learned from the Shah’s upheaval:
“During Iran’s historic 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranians abroad played an instrumental role in transforming the movement from a fringe idea led by a frail cleric, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, into a global force that eventually toppled the monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Iranians abroad flocked to Mr. Khomeini’s side, lending his movement language skills, money and, ultimately, global legitimacy.”
“In the current crisis, Iran is eager to prevent a similar scenario.”
4 Responses to “Iranian Government Targets Opposition Worldwide”
“it wasn’t possible to independently verify their claims”
I think that’s the operative line here.
“The questioning, they said, took place at passport control upon their arrival at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport.”
Lloyd, you’ve been to Tunisia. Ever flown into Israel with your passport previously stamped with a Tunisian visa? If so, then you probably have an idea of what security is like right now for anyone flying into Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) from the West, particularly America.
If the WSJ report is credible (given its long history of anti-Iran bias), then I guess I’m now being monitored simultaneously by the Department of Homeland Security and the IRGC!
Oh, the life of an Iranian-American is never dull…
@Pirouz:
If the IRGC is monitoring you, I’m sure they don’t have too many problems with your comments. They’d have very little to be upset about. And I wouldn’t worry about the Department of Homeland Security. Unlike the IRGC, they do not arrest, rape and torture their own citizens for simply criticizing their government. Sorry if this makes your life less risky and dangerous as you imagined it 🙂
Well, I-A, that’s easy for you to say- you haven’t been subjected to an intense two year surveillance operation by federal and local law enforcement, with all the legal and social repercussions that entails. Believe me when I tell you, I know what some of those Greens are going through, for being “outspoken”.
As for the IRGC, according to their press releases, they are monitoring Iranian related political sites. You bet the NIAC sites are analyzed. I’ve stated here and elsewhere that I voted Green. Where folks like you criticize me is the fact that I am in no way subversive, and seek improved relations between the US and IRI above all else.
Take it from me, I-A, it can be a risky business for an Iranian to speak out, even in this country. Now you might say I haven’t been brutalized in a prison. That’s true, but I wasn’t “noticed” by US security for being “outspoken” in Afghanistan or Iraq. If I had, then the odds of such would have increased dramatically!
Anyway, I’m glad you recognized the dry humor contained in my comment. Sometimes humor is the best companion during situations like these.
Dear Pirouz,
I’ve noticed that an individual who goes by the name “Sargord Pirouz” has started leaving comments on Iranian.com that remind me very much of your style and substance of commenting on the NIAC blog. Are you familiar with this Sargord Pirouz. Very best regards.