“Rahim Shilani,” 49, and “Azad Rasoulifard,” 45, two Kurdish citizens from Bukan who spent nearly three months in temporary detention under “severe physical torture,” were each sentenced to two years of mandatory imprisonment on charges of “buying and selling Starlink satellite equipment.”
Since the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests and the increasing prevalence of Starlink in Iran, news regarding the arrest and judicial prosecution of citizens for purchasing, selling, or using Starlink devices has routinely surfaced. These cases highlight a key question: How does the regime uncover the identities of Starlink internet users?
The short answer is that if proper security protocols are followed, the risk of exposing a user’s identity can be minimized.
In an interview with Alireza Manafi, an internet access researcher at Small Media (ASAL 19), this report provides a step-by-step guide to establishing security when using Starlink, starting even before contacting an equipment vendor.
Arrests, Judicial Prosecution, and State Violence
