Iran's judiciary has filed about 300 indictments over the weekend, including against Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah, and personnel of opposition media outlets Iran International and Manoto, according to reports. The charges include espionage, treason, and 'waging war against God' (moharebeh), which carries the death penalty. The crackdown targets journalists and staff of external opposition networks.
Iran's judiciary has intensified its crackdown on dissent by filing approximately 300 indictments over the weekend, according to separate reports. One source, citing the Iranian judiciary's announcement, states that the indictments target Reza Pahlavi, the son of the former Shah, and approximately 300 journalists and employees of the Iran International and Manoto networks, on charges of espionage, treason, and 'waging war against God' (moharebeh) — an offense that carries the death penalty. Another report says the indictments were filed against Iranian citizens accused of establishing contact and transferring materials to opposition media outlets operating outside the country.
The reports differ in their characterization of the accused: the first identifies them specifically as media personnel, while the second uses a broader 'citizens' category. The overlap suggests the indictments primarily target journalists and staff of diaspora-based opposition media, which the regime views as a threat.
The development comes amid a wider crackdown on dissent and opposition media. As The Zioneer has reported, Iran has previously filed similar charges against Pahlavi and Iran International figures, and has arrested thousands on collaboration-related charges. The case is the latest in a series of legal actions targeting dissidents and media figures, with human rights groups accusing the regime of using national security pretexts to suppress internal dissent.
The charges are considered among the most severe in Iran's legal system, and a conviction on moharebeh could lead to execution.
2 developments
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- DevelopingIran sentences nine protesters to death over two days, report says
- DevelopingIran arrests 130 over January protests and espionage allegations
Source and signal
- Internal intake