As though Iran were running short of human rights activists to arrest, revolutionary guards have now set their sights on people who write about gadgets.
The technology news website Narenji.ir [1] in Kerman [2] reported on December 3, 2013 that seven of their writers and technical staff were suddenly arrested with no information about where they were taken. A list of names of those arrested was removed from the site a few hours after it was posted (see screen shot).
The way Iran's Mehr News told the story, a total of 16 cyber activists [3] were arrested in Kerman, accused of acting against national security and collaborating with foreign networks, providing content for counter-revolutionary sites.
Nariman Gharib informs us on Twitter that at least one blogger was among those arrested.
He tweeted [4]:
Amir Sadeghpour, a popular blogger in #Iran [5] – arrested two days ago by Iranian revolutionary guard. #narenji [6] #نارنجی [7]
— Nariman Gharib (@ListenToUs) December 4, 2013 [8]
The Islamic Republic has a long record of repressing digital freedoms [9], but the mass arrest of people writing about gadgets and technology, can be considered a new chapter.
A Facebook campaign [10] has been launched to support Narenji's arrested staff, and netizens tweeted about new wave of arrests.
Ali Nemati Shahab tweeted [11] [fa]:
الان اخبار بیست شبکهی خبر، اتهام بچههای #نارنجی [7] رو اقدام علیه امنیت ملی و براندازی نرم اعلام کرد … هیچی نگید فقط براشون دعا کنید :(
— Ali Nemati Shahab (@gozareha) December 4, 2013 [12]
Narenji's staff were accused of acting against national security… Do not say anything, just pray.
Oriana tweeted [13] [fa]:
اتهام های بچه های #نارنجی [7] رو که می خونم نمی دونم به مسخرگیش بخندم یا گریه کنم!
— Oriana (@fallaci_sr) December 4, 2013 [14]
The accusations are so ridiculous, we do not know if we should laugh or cry.
AmirHossein tweets [15] [fa]:
#نارنجی [7] رید با این خبر زدنش، همین خبری که زد با عنوان دستگیری الآن براشون گرون تموم میشه. -تشویش اذهان عمومی اونم نسبت به سپاه
— امیرحوسین (@amirhosseinag) December 3, 2013 [16]
Narenji's post writing that revolutionary guards arrested them will cost them a lot.