In the midst of the pandemic, Iranian authorities crack down on social media users
Reihane Taravati, a Tehran resident, knows all too well the dangers involved in posting videos and photos on social media websites in Iran.
Since 2009, Iranian women have been required by the Computer Crimes Law to adhere to strict guidelines for online conduct, which includes what they can wear. But in the years since, authorities have been inconsistent in defining what constitutes “deviant” online behavior and also in enforcing their rules.
On June 3, several people in the northeastern religious city of Mashhad were arrested for posting pictures that authorities described as “vulgar and norm-breaking” on an Instagram account with over 700,000 followers. according to the semiofficial Fars news agency. The arrest warrant was issued by judiciary officials in mid-May after the image went viral. The pair were accused of “advocating vice,” according to Tasnim News Agency.
In September 2014, Taravati, sentenced along with five others, received a suspended sentence of 12 months in prison and 91 lashes.
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