LONDON: Iran and its clandestine operatives have been orchestrating a pervasive campaign of harassment, surveillance, kidnap plots, and death threats aimed at political activists who stand in opposition to the regime.
The extent of this campaign is Europe-wide, with reports of targeted actions against Iranian campaigners in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Sweden.
The Guardian has had conversations with 15 Iranian activists who have fallen victim to similar acts of repression. In most cases, these activists have been forewarned by Western security agencies about credible threats to their lives emanating from Iran, in response to their activism on European soil. The attacks range from hacking and cyber-attacks to online harassment, often involving thousands of death threats sent over a short period, along with real-world threats.
The tactics employed include slashing car tires, suspected to be orchestrated by Iranian agents, as experienced by two activists in different European countries within the last year. Additionally, several activists reported being followed home by suspicious individuals after attending political events.
An Iranian government spokesperson has denied all allegations of wrongdoing, despite the mounting evidence and reports from victims. This targeted repression comes in the wake of the death in custody last year of Mahsa Amini, sparking mass protests within Iran that shook the foundations of the Islamic Republic.
The response to these protests within Iran has been brutal, resulting in over 500 casualties during marches and approximately 20,000 detentions. Shockingly, over 100 protesters have reportedly been sentenced to death or charged with capital offenses, with seven executions already carried out.
Simultaneously, Iran has sought to quell dissent beyond its borders, targeting activists such as Maryam Banihashemi, the face of the Iranian women’s movement in Switzerland, who has received numerous death threats on social media for advocating regime change in Iran. Banihashemi has faced intimidation and fears for her life after being informed of a credible assassination threat.
Other individuals, like Farzane based in Spain and Fariba Borhanzehi in London, have also been subject to death threats and targeted harassment. Despite efforts by security agencies and police in some European countries to provide protection and advice, ensuring safety remains a significant challenge, necessitating a considerable commitment of resources.
Matt Jukes, the head of counter-terrorism policing at London’s Metropolitan police, highlighted a quadruple increase in the force’s workload investigating threats from foreign states, many of which can be traced back to Iran. He disclosed that the UK had thwarted 15 plots by Iran to either kidnap or kill UK-based individuals seen as enemies of the regime.
Iran-linked hacker groups have been identified in Germany, prompting warnings from the security services and necessitating increased vigilance. However, even with these precautions, activists like Shadi Amin continue to feel unsafe, reminiscent of their experiences in 1980s Iran.
Across Europe, activists are living in a state of constant anxiety, struggling to trust their surroundings and often relying on their own instincts for safety. The Iranian regime’s repressive tactics, both within and beyond its borders, have escalated, leaving many activists and their families vulnerable and at risk.
