Iran protests: Secret committee "punished celebrities over dissent"
REGION 25 April 2023 - 14:56
BBC Persian has published an article about a secret committee in Iran set up to punish celebrities showing dissent. The article gets into details of the committee's work. Caliber.Az reprints the article.
Iran formed a secret committee last year to punish celebrities who backed the current anti-government protests, leaked documents seen by the BBC show.
In a letter dated 22 September, just six days after the unrest began, the committee sent the economy ministry a list of 141 well-known figures.
It told the ministry to investigate their tax returns and take unspecified action against them.
The list included football legend Ali Daei and top actress Taraneh Alidoosti.
They are among dozens of artists, sportspeople and social media influencers who have faced economic sanctions, travel bans or detention over the past seven months after supporting the protesters' calls for basic freedoms.
Demonstrations spread rapidly across the country following the death in custody on 16 September of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who was detained by morality police in Tehran for allegedly wearing her hijab "improperly".
Hundreds of people have died and thousands more have been detained in a violent crackdown by security forces, which have portrayed the protests as foreign-instigated "riots".
BBC Persian obtained three documents through a Middle Eastern intelligence source that reveal how the government took swift and coordinated action in an attempt to deter celebrities from not following the official line.
The letter dated 22 September announces decisions by a so-called "Celebrity Task Force" and identifies its chairman as the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili, who has been sanctioned by the European Union for allegedly committing serious human rights violations.
It says the economy ministry has been instructed to look at the tax returns of 141 well-known figures perceived by the committee to have played an important role in fuelling the unrest and to implement "anticipated restrictions according to the law".
As well as Ali Daei and Taraneh Alidoosti, who was arrested on 17 December after condemning the execution of a protester and released on bail two weeks later, the celebrities on the list included filmmakers Asghar Farhadi, Pegah Ahangarani, Manijeh Hekmat, Barzou Arjomand and Shahin Samadpour, and former TV host Ehsan Karami.
The letter does not give details about the "restrictions" they faced, but one of those named told BBC Persian: "Instagram influencers were threatened by officials that if they continued to support the protests they would have to pay taxes on all the income they receive from their online activities, which would amount to a significant sum."
Two other individuals confirmed that their bank accounts were blocked after they expressed support for the protests.
Another document, marked as "top secret" and dated 26 September, says that the "Celebrity Task Force" has been renamed the "Celebrities Committee" and made permanent.
It also says that the committee's responsibilities have been divided, with the culture and intelligence ministry dealing with "artists, singers and media personalities", and the sports ministry and Revolutionary Guards' intelligence agency taking over sportspeople.
The document warns that any decision regarding the celebrities "should be made in a way that minimises costs and maximises benefits in controlling disturbances and supporting the principles of the regime".
The third document, dated 1 November, discusses how to deal with footballers ahead of the World Cup in Qatar and says the assets of a well-known player and coach should be frozen.
The document also says the committee has been angered by the "continuous audacity" of the actress Fatemeh Motamed-Arya and that it has asked the Tehran prosecutor's office to "quickly indict her and put her case on the agenda with priority".
Ms Motamed-Arya had posted photos of herself without a hijab and released a strongly-worded video complaining about being featured in a government billboard showing hijab-wearing women.
And despite their supposed focus on sportspeople, the document says Revolutionary Guards' intelligence agents have been given permission to detain the actress Katayoun Riahi.
Ms Riahi, one of the first actresses to remove her hijab in support of the protests, was reportedly arrested near the northern city of Qazvin on 20 November and released on bail a week later.
Caliber.Az
1
|
700 tunnel shafts found in Rafah, 50 cross into Egypt Israel informs South Africa at UN top court
17 May 2024 - 15:56
|
2
|
Uncertainty over Russian border guard withdrawal from Armenia Amid conflicting statements
18 May 2024 - 14:47
|
3
|
New Caledonia crisis mirrors Macron's hypocrisy on Azerbaijan France faces its own crisis
17 May 2024 - 17:20
|
4
|
Giant meteor seen lighting up skies of Portugal
19 May 2024 - 13:11
|
5
|
Azerbaijan sets priorities ahead of COP29 "Green" financing, ESG implementation
18 May 2024 - 12:13
|
What von der Leyen’s campaign tour says about her priorities
Review by Euractiv20 May 2024 - 03:59
Political violence is on the rise in EU, driven by extremism and disillusionment
Analysts talk to Euronews20 May 2024 - 02:01
How are museums still justifying keeping stolen artifacts?
Bloomberg reveals20 May 2024 - 00:03
Techcraft on display in Ukraine
Analysis by War on the Rocks19 May 2024 - 22:00
Chinese state-backed company to launch space tourism flights by 2028
19 May 2024 - 20:01
Ukraine destroys another Russian ship
19 May 2024 - 18:01
Slovak PM Fico no longer in immediate danger but condition serious, deputy says
19 May 2024 - 17:40
Iranian president's helicopter makes hard landing on border with Azerbaijan
19 May 2024 - 17:25
Russia's forces shot down 9 ATACMS missiles, 61 drones overnight
19 May 2024 - 17:17
France mobilises police to regain control of New Caledonia airport road
19 May 2024 - 16:49
India doubles purchase of Russian diamonds
19 May 2024 - 16:26
Venezuela approves investment agreement with Türkiye
19 May 2024 - 15:58
Coup d'état thwarted in Democratic Republic of Congo
19 May 2024 - 15:30
Biden, Trump accuse each other of threatening democracy
19 May 2024 - 15:09
"Iran, Azerbaijan show a very strong joint political will today"
President Aliyev tells Raisi during meeting at the border/PHOTO19 May 2024 - 14:40
Russian oil refinery suspends operations after drone falls on its site
19 May 2024 - 14:14
Iranian ambassador: New page opened in relations with Azerbaijan
19 May 2024 - 13:52
Erdogan commemorates 105th anniversary of Turkish freedom struggle
Ataturk Memorial Day19 May 2024 - 13:29
Giant meteor seen lighting up skies of Portugal
19 May 2024 - 13:11
Azerbaijan, Russia discuss enhanced economic, transport cooperation at KazanForum 2024
PHOTO19 May 2024 - 12:51
Latvian Parliament speaker arrives in Azerbaijan's Fuzuli
PHOTO19 May 2024 - 12:35
Construction of Turkish Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant nears completion, director says
19 May 2024 - 12:21
Israel, Hamas suspend prisoner swap talks
19 May 2024 - 11:52
German chancellor warns against full-scale ground operation in Rafah
19 May 2024 - 11:23
China uncovers "multiple espionage cases" in space sector
19 May 2024 - 10:54
Latvian Parliament speaker pays official visit to Azerbaijan
19 May 2024 - 10:25
President Aliyev inaugurates “Zangilan” and “Shayifli” hydroelectric power plants
PHOTO19 May 2024 - 09:56
President’s aide discusses Azerbaijani-American partnership at US Institute of Peace
PHOTO19 May 2024 - 09:27
Germany's Bundesrat passes gender self-identification law
19 May 2024 - 09:00
Poland to spend over 2.3 bln euros to fortify eastern border
PM says19 May 2024 - 06:30
Kim's sister denies North Korea has supplied weapons to Russia
19 May 2024 - 04:23
Iran hangs two women as surge in executions intensifies: NGO
19 May 2024 - 02:20
US Army’s multidomain task force contributing to AUKUS
19 May 2024 - 00:15
Slovakia at pivotal moment after Robert Fico shooting
18 May 2024 - 22:10
Russia admits it can’t halt nighttime uncrewed surface vessel raids
18 May 2024 - 20:00
Palestinian resistance eliminates 15 Israeli soldiers in Rafah
18 May 2024 - 18:18
Slovak PM’s attacker pleads guilty before court — media
18 May 2024 - 18:08
White House not thrilled by Macron’s D-Day invite to Russia
18 May 2024 - 17:59
Poland to begin construction of Eastern Shield
18 May 2024 - 17:47
Resistance destroys 100 Israeli vehicles in 10 days
18 May 2024 - 17:32