Iran’s Heightened Crackdown: Executions and Mass Arrests Spark Outrage and Alarm

Iranian authorities are shifting focus from a ceasefire with Israel to tightening security within the country. This shift has resulted in mass arrests, executions, and military deployments, especially in the Kurdish regions. Following Israel’s airstrikes on June 13, Iranian security forces began a broad campaign against dissent, increasing their presence in the streets with checkpoints.

While some opposition groups had hoped these military actions would lead to uprisings against the Islamic Republic, no major protests have emerged. Many Iranians are upset with the government but are staying silent for now.

A senior Iranian security official shared that the government is particularly worried about potential unrest in the Kurdish areas. Revolutionary Guard and Basij paramilitary forces are on high alert. They are concerned about foreign agents and separatist movements, especially the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK), a previously designated terrorist group.

Activists in Iran are being cautious. A rights activist in Tehran reported that many people are being summoned for questioning, leading to either arrest or warnings not to express dissent. The Human Rights News Agency (HRNA) noted that around 705 political or security arrests have occurred since the war began, with accusations of espionage against many.

In a troubling development, three individuals were executed recently in Urmia, near the Turkish border, with reports indicating that they were Kurdish. The Iranian government has not commented on this latest wave of violence or the arrests.

On top of this crackdown, troops have been deployed along the borders with Pakistan, Iraq, and Azerbaijan to prevent what officials label as terrorist infiltration. This response reflects long-standing tensions; minorities like the Kurdish and Baluch populations have a history of opposing the ruling Shi’ite government in Tehran.

Targets for the crackdown include three primary Kurdish separatist factions operating from Iraq, with claims that several activists and fighters have been arrested. Ribaz Khalili from the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan mentioned that Revolutionary Guards were going door-to-door in Kurdish provinces, searching for weapons and suspects soon after the Israeli strikes began.

The situation is serious. The Revolutionary Guards even evacuated specific industrial zones to redirect resources for their operations. Fatma Ahmed from the Free Life Party of Kurdistan reported over 500 detentions in the Kurdish provinces since the airstrikes started. Checkpoints are now a common sight, with searches of individuals and their belongings becoming more frequent.

This escalation has left many wondering how long the current peace will last amidst rising fears of internal unrest and growing government repression.



Source link