In the coronavirus crisis in Iran, the lives of political prisoners are at risk

This week the MEK Iran released a top-secret memo from the State Security Force to regime police stations containing instructions on how to suppress prison protests during the COVID-19 crisis. The publication of the memo, which illustrates the regime’s complete lack of disregard for the safety and well-being of the inmates in its prisons, was met with outrage by human rights activists and family members of Iranian prisoners.

The Iranian regime responded to the leak of the memo by releasing another top-secret memo to employees, restricting their internet and social media usage to prevent future intelligence leaks. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) obtained a copy of the classified memo. Notably, the document referenced the publication of the SSF memo to police stations as part of its rationale for cracking down on security measures. “Considering the publication of various organizational documents by police employees… [we must] issue orders to prevent such security breaches and announce necessary reservations in this regard to your personnel,” it reads in part.

A translated version of the documents obtained by the NCRI’s Anti-Terrorism and Security Commission may be read below.

Security restrictions on membership and personal use of social media for employees:

1. Refrain from using security identity while registering and using social media networks (images, occupation, position and…).
2. Refrain from establishing social groups with security and military titles.
3. Refrain from establishing social groups with only members of security and military apparatus, and colleagues.
4. Refrain from publishing any type of military criteria related to the Armed Forces.
5. Refrain from presenting any information regarding security occupations among one’s opinions.
6. Abstain from membership in any (internet) groups associated with dissidents and such political currents.
7. Refraining from liking the criteria posted by unknown individuals or those associated with dissidents and such political currents.
8. Refrain from linking to filtered social media networks that are banned by law.
9. Refrain from establishing contact with foreign companies, institutions, and individuals through social media networks.
10. Refrain from establishing ties between personal accounts and organizational email accounts.
11. Refrain from using personal social media accounts at work.
12. Refrain from registering contacts with military titles or identifications.

Security restrictions regarding establishing, entering and exchanging information, including the following in social media networks (prohibited actions):

1. Any type of organization information and related criteria.
2. Information that is against the sacred sharia of Islam, the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran and regulations of the Armed Forces.
3. Information resulting in tension among the people, and/or between the people and the Armed Forces and the Government.
4. Information resulting in tension between the Armed Forces’ organizations.
5. Information resulting in tensions among ethnicities and religions.
6. Information insulting individuals or entities.
7. Expressing any opinions or gathering news and information about issues related to the Armed Forces and the Islamic Republic on social media.
8. Joining filtered social media networks banned by law.
9. Establishing a connection with foreign companies, institutions, and individuals through social media.
10. Establishing contact between personal social media accounts and organizational email accounts.
11. Using personal social media accounts at work.
12. Registering contacts with military titles or identifications.

The MEK Iran has reported 32,200 deaths in Iran from COVID-19 as of Friday, April 19, 2020, and the regime has done little to flatten the curve or provide assistance to those in need. This memo and the one published earlier this week show where the regime’s priorities lie. The primary objective for the mullahs is to maintain their grip on power, no matter how many lives must be sacrificed to do so.