In response to the Islamic Republic’s law enforcement officials announcing the arrest of “6,500 spies and traitors,” the Etemad newspaper described the figure not as a sign of security strength, but as an “alarm bell” for the country’s security, oversight, and social systems.
The newspaper argued that security is not achieved solely through judicial action and arrests, but depends heavily on the effectiveness of preventive institutions, monitoring systems, and the level of public trust.
Questioning how such a large network of anti-security activities could emerge without being identified earlier, Etemad stressed that national security is not defined only at the moment of arrest, but by preventing conditions that allow infiltration to grow in the first place.
The op-ed added that the public has the right to ask what failures existed in recruitment, monitoring, and surveillance mechanisms, and whether proper coordination was maintained among responsible agencies.
Etemad further argued that real authority is not demonstrated only by detaining suspects, but also through admitting mistakes, reforming systems, and maintaining accountability.
