Iranian regime sends text messages to civilians threatening them with execution: report

Pro-government protests in Tehran.

The Iranian regime is sending messages to civilians they consider to be associated with “hostile” foreign media, threatening them with the harshest punishment, NewsNation reported, citing a message sent by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to an Iranian refugee. Legal warning: What the message says“Legal warning: In accordance with the instructions of the Supreme National Security Council and Article 4 of the Law on Severe Punishment of Crimes Against the Zionist Regime, joining virtual spaces, channels and pages associated with hostile foreign media (especially so-called ‘international’ terrorist networks), as well as sending any photos, videos, content or location data, are considered crimes. In wartime conditions, such actions may be punished with the harshest penalties.”“Given that you are a member of these pages, you are hereby warned that if you do not leave these pages and channels, we will take legal action against you in accordance with the prescribed laws. If you have any explanation for this, please contact 113 or send a message on Eitaa, Bale or Rubika messaging applications through the Intelligence Ministry platform.” Eitaa, Baleh and Rubika ware messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram, the report said. “They read text messages, WhatsApp messages, Instagram posts and stories,” the refugee said, adding that they had been interrogated before in Iran and the threats escalated after the war began. “I was told that I could face severe punishment; execution,” they said.Iran recently executed three men accused of killing police officers during anti-government protests in January. The three include Saleh Mohammadi, a member of Iran’s national wrestling team. The execution took place on Thursday morning – while the war was still going on. The three men confessed under torture and were executed without a fair trial, according to human rights groups.Their deaths came a day after Iran executed a dual Iranian-Swedish citizen. Kouroush Keyvani was sentenced to death for espionage for Israel.