Recent reports from Iran suggest that an intense crackdown on political opposition within the country that began during mass protests in January is continuing unabated.On June 13, the Iranian Writers' Association announced Yousef Ansari, a poet and novelist arrested on January 8, had received a sentence of four months in prison plus another eight months suspended.RFE/RL's Radio Farda learned that Fereydoun Farahani, a music professor and visiting professor of architecture at Pars University, had been arrested for social media posts he made during the demonstrations.He had posted a song called In Praise Of The Nation's Desire For Freedom on his Instagram.In Isfahan Province, the judiciary announced that 100 "traitors" would have their property confiscated, without providing any further details.For several weeks now, the Iranian authorities have announced similar measures against hundreds of people.The Iran Human Rights Group, a watchdog based in Norway, reported on June 8 that at least 40 prisoners, including 19 protesters, had been hanged on politically motivated charges so far this year.
Also on June 13, the Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, reported that a suspect had been arrested for being "in contact with foreign espionage elements."Another part of the crackdown has been the increasing use of a new law introduced following the 12-day war with Israel last year, expanding penalties for alleged espionage.Some of those charged with spying have been hanged, along with dozens of other political prisoners, in recent weeks.The scale of the repression, which began with security forces killing thousands of protesters in January, has drawn widespread international condemnation.
