Iran Targets Online Critics Worldwide, Relatives Back Home

Wall Street Journal:

In recent months, Iran has been conducting a campaign of harassing and intimidating members of its diaspora world-wide -- not just prominent dissidents -- who criticize the regime, according to former Iranian lawmakers and former members of Iran's elite security force, the Revolutionary Guard, with knowledge of the program.

Part of the effort involves tracking the Facebook, Twitter and YouTube activity of Iranians around the world, and identifying them at opposition protests abroad, these people say.

Read the whole story: Wall Street Journal

Comments

[Wozzeck]

09:11 PM on 12/06/2009

"This month Iran announced a 12-member unit within the armed forces called the Internet Crime Unit to track individuals "spreading lies and insults" about the regime."

So what's new?

"New IDF [Israel Defense Forces] unit to fight enemies on Facebook, Twitter"
"Benayahu said the new program would be able to deal with the problem. He said that from each group drafted to the Army Spokesman's Office, between eight to 10 young people who are experts in Web 2.0 - YouTube, Facebook and Twitter - to be identified before induction, would be assigned to the new department. The new recruits would be put to work in the new media unit after undergoing a general Army Spokesman's Unit training course"
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1131918.html

[Khirad]

05:15 AM on 12/06/2009

BiBiJan said this supports the current system of government.

http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/527.php

From the article:

Most Iranians support a number of democratic principles, including the long-run goals of "ensuring free elections" (82% important, including 55% very important) and "ensuring a free press" (78% important, including 50% very important). Iranians express much greater support for a government in which "the Supreme Leader, along with all leaders, can be chosen and replaced by a free and direct vote of the people" (86% support, including 71% strongly support) than for a government in which "the Supreme Leader rules according to religious principles and cannot be chosen or replaced by a direct vote of the people" (38% support, including 19% strongly support). [TFT, QQ 14e-f, 23a-b]

And, even though this would strongly support my Reform-sympathetic views, I still want to say that polls in Iran are tricky animals. Concurrent ones may completely contradict each other. In the US and other European countries a bias spread is seen Rassie vs. FiveThirtyEight, for example, in relatively few points, under ten. Iranian polls can be across the board (and yes, depend on when they were taken).

[BiBiJan]

06:47 PM on 12/06/2009

Being a little selective again, aren't we? The very next paragraph in the survey you quote goes on to say:

Nevertheless, on separate questions a clear majority of Iranians express satisfaction with the "process by which the authorities are elected in this country" (62%, including 18% very satisfied and 44% somewhat satisfied) and approved of "the way President Ahmadinejad is handling his job as president" (66%). [WPO, QQ 40, 45] These approval ratings lie roughly midway between Iranian support for the "ideal" of a free and direct popular vote for political leaders (86% support - see paragraph above) and support for a religious autocracy (38%). While many observers characterize the present Iranian political system as a religious autocracy, evidently many Iranians do not see it that way.

Based on this and other survey results I simply posit that a majority of Iranians have the same nuanced but supportive relationship with their system of government and elected/appointed officials that Belgians have with their government in Brussels.

[BiBiJan]

07:49 PM on 12/06/2009

Here's my thesaurus entry for cheesy comments.

inferior, poor, shabby, sleazy, trashy, worthless

[BiBiJan]

08:29 AM on 12/05/2009

From http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3252934,00.html

"On Friday the Canadian Newspaper National Post reported that Jews would have to wear yellow armbands, based on the claims of Iranian expatriates living in Canada. Shortly after the article was printed, the newspaper backed off from the report and published a second article expressing reservations about the report’s credibility. However, the flames were already ignited as the story quickly spread around world news media."

"Representative of Iran’s 25,000 Jews in the nation’s parliament, Maurice Motamed, the only Jewish MP there, told the western press that the report dealt a severe blow to the Jewish image in Iran. “I was there when they discussed the law, and it was about the dress of Iranian Muslim women. Restrictions for minority or other religions were not mentioned,” Motamed said."

[Khirad]

04:57 AM on 12/06/2009

Yes, I remember that NP story, and don't exaggerate, it was called bunk from the start. Only mainly certain Zionist media continued to buy into it. But, fair enough. Don't suppose I'll forget if this turns out to be correct - certainly there is truth to parts of this story. Certainly, the hard-liners in IRI have openly announced their "soft war" on the "enemies within". Given the history of 1906 and 1979 that you will no doubt be acquainted with, if I were them, I'd be doing this to. If anything has changed it is that "exporting the revolution" policy is now in defensive mode. The US outed IRI spies all over the world in the 90's. It can do it again. Was the Australian case disproven, btw? (honest question)

Oh, and why is he the only Jewish MP? (rhetorical question)

[BiBiJan]

07:00 PM on 12/06/2009

Every word was a quote from ynetnews. I cannot take credit for any exaggerations. I chose YnetNews, because "Ynetnews is an English language Israel news and content website operated by Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel's most-read newspaper". Thereby, I was harboring futile hope that folk's irrational animosity towards me would not get in the way of seeing the bleeding obvious point:

Expats can exaggerate.

On quiet news days when an expat has not, the media will make up their own exaggerations.

[BiBiJan]

05:17 PM on 12/04/2009

Not fair. Sifting through the invectives, accusations, beratings, censure, condemnation, contumely, denunciation, diatribe, epithet, jeremiad, obloquy, philippic, reproach, revilement, sarcasm, scurrility, tirade, tongue-lashing, vilification, vituperation, and slogans, I can honestly say, up to now, I have learnt absolutely nothing from your posts.

[BiBiJan]

05:21 PM on 12/04/2009

To my fan, wereeverywhere.

[wereeverywhere]

09:34 PM on 12/04/2009

Get the ghosts out of your head and you'd be amazed at what you could comprehend. The struggle continues:

http://english.mowjcamp.com/article/id/68162

7 December; another push towards freedom in Iran

56 years ago when students from the University of Tehran mobilised to protest the unholy alliance between the former dictator of Iran and the US and a state visit by the then vice-President Richard Nixon to Tehran, they were met with violence which led the death of three students. After 56 years, the fight continues...

And there are already signs that the Ahmadinejad and his murderous gang of thugs are uneasy about the Green Movement’s planned show of force on 7 December as student after student is summoned by the “disciplinary committee” of their universities with the hope of causing enough fear and terror among students that they will suddenly forget about the horrific events that have unfolded in the past six months.

[lightningbolt]

01:52 PM on 12/04/2009

It is up to us who don't have relatives in Iran and are not planning to travel there to continue criticizing the fascist Iranian regime. They are trying to provoke a war with Israel and the U.S. so that they can rally the population behind their government and stay in power. If the U.S. and Israel hold back and don't attack, the Iranian regime will collapse due to economic collapse and revolution.

[Durango]

01:14 PM on 12/04/2009

Not sure i am ready to take anything coming from the Wall Street Journal at face value.

We used to be able to. Their reporting was first rate. It was just the editorial board who were the Koolaid drinkers. And you would not believe them if they said the sun comes up in the East.

But they used to have top notch reporters.

But IF this story is true it indicates the Iranian hardliners are feeling the heat. And the opposition is making progress.

Don't ever forget that the leaders of the opposition have first hand knowledge of how to topple an autocratic corrupt regime.

They did it in 1979. Looks like they are doing it again.

[wereeverywhere]

01:20 PM on 12/04/2009

"Don't ever forget that the leaders of the opposition have first hand knowledge of how to topple an autocratic corrupt regime."

And let us not forget that the IRI hardliners remember and pay homage to the Shah's tactics of repression. If this story is true it would be yet another example.

[Khirad]

05:25 AM on 12/06/2009

Oh, they're feeling the heat - or walking on eggshells more accurately. Just read statements made by Pasdaran commanders, paranoid as ever of the "threat within".

[harund]

12:44 PM on 12/04/2009

- Iranians are taking a playbook from the Chinese, by globally harassing expats who speak their mind.

- The Republicans who are so bellicose with the revolutionary government have been doing business under the table with the regime since the 1980 election. The civil war they conducted through Iraq in the late 80's cemented a regime for two more decades that at the time was becoming politically unstable...
We are all responsible for, as Democrats are equally culpable for sitting on their hands during the Shah and for not supporting legitimate democratic movements at the time, Iran as it is today.

[BiBiJan]

11:36 AM on 12/04/2009

Just as I thought I had enough of AP's lopsidedness, we get treated to a WSJ piece:

"Although it wasn't possible to independently verify their claims, interviewees provided consistently similar descriptions of harassment techniques worldwide. Most asked that their full names not be published. "

Freedom of the press. Freedom from verification before dissemination. Freedom from commonsense.

Lets take what you imply as fact: Iran's stupidity knows no bounds. e.g. Iran's attempt at silencing one seldom-read fringe blogger at the expense of creating bad press like your article in the mainstream media. Ba, ba, ba. Please note I am bleating dutifully.

Now, a short break. May I ask what percentage of their GDP they are allocating for this worldwide repression?

Back to bleating. Ba ba ba

[dfranz]

12:46 PM on 12/04/2009

What's it like being in the Repubican Guard?

[Durango]

01:16 PM on 12/04/2009

Seeing independent verification of the claims in a news story is kind od run of the mill is it not?

WAY too much propaganda floating around as news lately, don't you think?

Cjheney just Knew where those WMD's were. Read it on the front page of the WSJ.

[BiBiJan]

09:37 AM on 12/05/2009

You don't think a little skepticism is in order? Many false stories are printed, and a retraction is always after the damage is done. There seems to be no journalistic accountability.

Just to illustrate the point, consider the following.

From http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3252934,00.html

"On Friday the Canadian Newspaper National Post reported that Jews would have to wear yellow armbands, based on the claims of Iranian expatriates living in Canada. Shortly after the article was printed, the newspaper backed off from the report and published a second article expressing reservations about the report’s credibility. However, the flames were already ignited as the story quickly spread around world news media."

"Representative of Iran's 25,000 Jews in the nation's parliament, Maurice Motamed, the only Jewish MP there, told the western press that the report dealt a severe blow to the Jewish image in Iran. "I was there when they discussed the law, and it was about the dress of Iranian Muslim women. Restrictions for minority or other religions were not mentioned," Motamed said."

[wereeverywhere]

01:07 PM on 12/04/2009

Even shills for IRI provide useful information, though it requires a little re-examination:

"Most asked that their full names not be published. "

Now why would that be do you think? Why would anyone fear the cuddly IRI? Do they ever stoop so low as to intimidate the family back home?

"Freedom of the press."

The key right Iranian press doesn't enjoy. Reporters have been thrown in jail so as to encourage the others.

"Lets take what you imply as fact: Iran's stupidity knows no bounds. e.g. Iran's attempt at silencing one seldom-read fringe blogger at the expense of creating bad press..."

Right. The history of the clumsiness and absurdity of IRI propaganda speaks for itself to those who aren't tone deaf to the ludicrous.

[BiBiJan]

05:18 PM on 12/04/2009

Not fair. Sifting through the invectives, accusations, beratings, censure, condemnation, contumely, denunciation, diatribe, epithet, jeremiad, obloquy, philippic, reproach, revilement, sarcasm, scurrility, tirade, tongue-lashing, vilification, vituperation, and slogans, I can honestly say, up to now, I have learnt absolutely nothing from your posts.

[Agent420]

11:36 AM on 12/04/2009

Note to the Iranian government: F.U.C.K. Y.O.U.!

[evagorman]

08:47 PM on 12/06/2009

Agreed!

[JohnnyPDX]

11:21 AM on 12/04/2009

Another nail in the current Iranian governments coffin. These tactics will begin to snowball because repression is all they know. This theocracy is living on borrowed time. Thugs.

[grind88]

10:24 AM on 12/04/2009

This fasc.ist regi.me would muf.fle the entire world if it lead to them staying in power

[grind88]

10:23 AM on 12/04/2009

This fascist regime would muffle the entire world if it lead to them staying in power

[ZenJu]

10:23 AM on 12/04/2009

And yet, many so-called "liberals" will defend repressive theocratic Iran vociferously while loudly condemning little democracy Israel and questioning its very existence as a nation. I'm a liberal, too, but I'm not stupid. Peace is good, but not at the cost of freedom. The Iranians who wish to be free of the tyranny of religious fanatics and thugs, the Iranians who don't want my country wiped off the map--they have my sympathy and my encouragement and whatever support I can offer. May Iran, land of Cyrus, be free one day, and may Iran and Israel join hands in friendship and cooperation for a peaceful and prosperous Middle East.

[dropthedh]

11:39 AM on 12/04/2009

Might happen if Israel can stop from herding Palestinians like cattle.

[ZenJu]

01:03 PM on 12/04/2009

Might happen if the Palestinians will choose leaders who will accept Israel, make real peace, stop terror attacks, and accept a deal to create a state...all of which has been repeatedly rejected by Fatah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad and other factions. Peace begets peace, dude. Israel's ready...how 'bout the OTHER side for a change? :O

[Billy Hell]

04:01 PM on 12/04/2009

Israel of course is the very model of human rights with it's behavior since 1948. And do yourself a favor and look for an unprejudiced translation of Ahmadinejad's speech when he spoke about erasing Israel from the map. That tired old propaganda has long been thoroughly refuted and is only used by those either ignorant or wanting to continue with the myth of it for cheap political purposes.

And what's with dictating to any nation who they should elect to govern?

[ZenJu]

06:13 PM on 12/04/2009

Fail. Epic fail. The attitude and policy of the Iranian government since the fall of the Shah has been quite well documented for three decades, and that has been sheer hostility toward the very existence of the Jewish State. There are many, many examples in quotes and photos to demonstrates, right down to the "Death to Israel" socks and headbands (!) worn by Iranian soldiers at times, such as during the Iran-Iraq war as photographed by National Geographic and other reliable sources. Theocratic Iran poses a clear and present danger to democratic Israel. I really hope the people of Iran, the real Iranians, can get rid of their evil and repressive government and embrace peace and freedom. As for elections...well, remember that the Nazis were voted into power in Germany. So much for your 'argument.'

[lastpost]

10:21 AM on 12/04/2009

Ali: In the highly unlikely event that you would be so ill-advised as to encourage such activities. Because of, if proven true, the concomitant worldwide damage to Iran’s reputation and chosen religion. Would you be so kind as to publicly state, that anyone taking it upon them self to enact such criminal outrages, does not have either your consent or blessing. If such a denunciation proves inconvenient, please understand why all will unfortunately be inclined to assume complicity on your part.

[BPCentrisAmerican]

09:20 AM on 12/04/2009

The holy rollers and the Republican Guard are going to end up dealing with angry armed revolution like the Shaw did, because there using the same tactics as the Shaw used, not to mention the power elite is destroying the Iranian economy. The Iranian middle class are educated, need jobs, and aren't religious zealots, this will happen.