Crackdown Intensifies Following Military Tensions Between Iranian Regime and Israel – 22 Citizens Arrested in Qom
21-June-2025
Category: Arrests، Freedom of Expression، Repression
21 June 2025
Category: Freedom of Expression – Arrests – Repression
Breathing in Confinement – Amid escalating military tensions and clashes between Iran and Israel, the head of the Intelligence Police in Qom Province announced the arrest of 22 individuals on charges such as “collaboration with Israeli intelligence services” and “spreading public anxiety.”
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news outlet of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, citing the head of Qom’s Intelligence and Public Security Police, the arrested individuals were allegedly identified and detained for “links to the Israeli regime,” “supporting it,” and “posting disturbing content on social media.” However, no specific information has been released regarding the identities of the detainees, the judicial procedures underway, or the precise nature of the charges.
These arrests come at a time when, following Israeli airstrikes and heightened military tensions, the domestic security environment in Iran has significantly tightened. Several citizens have reportedly faced legal action merely for expressing opinions on social media regarding recent military developments.
Breathing in Confinement expressed concern over this trend, stating that arrests based on vague and unsubstantiated accusations violate the principles of fair trial and freedom of expression. The use of ambiguous terms like “spreading public anxiety” or “suspicion of ties to the enemy” without presenting clear evidence facilitates political misuse and undermines the integrity of judicial processes.