Iran: Regime suppresses freedom of speech to conceal COVID-19 cases

Iran, March 20, 2020 -- Following the novel coronavirus COVID-19’s outbreak, the Islamic Republic of Iran has become the third most affected country in the world after China and Italy. However, the Iranian government has resorted to conceal facts regarding casualties as a result of the global pandemic.

We are alarmed by Iran’s arbitrary suppression of free information flow in the midst of a global pandemic, where the opposite is needed. It is important for the regime to understand how their actions to restrict facts about COVID-19 will not only impact its own citizens but also those around the world.

As of March 19, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Iran surpassed 18,000 and claimed 1,248 lives. The pandemic has caused Iran to become one of the hardest-hit countries in the world, after the outbreak began on February 19. Even though the country has released 54,000 prisoners to control the outbreak in jails, its approach to obstruct information via the press is extremely worrying.

The Iranian regime has allegedly covered up the damage caused due to COVID-19 ever since it has surfaced in the country. Censorship of news reports and the number of cases related to coronavirus have had an impact on media’s reporting. The restrictions on press freedom has also resulted in lack of public trust towards the government. Neither Iranians accept the information conveyed by the regime, nor do they abide by the recommendations of the health department. The absence of reliable facts has aggravated this current health crisis in Iran.

The regime is already notorious for persecuting journalists, especially women journalists, and imprisoning them for doing their work. In 2019, 11 women journalists were behind bars in Iran. The country’s Cyber Police have currently set up a national task force to deal with rumours and misinformation regarding the virus. The government arrested 24 people for disseminating “misinformation” regarding the outbreak on social media, and around 118 also received warnings. The lack of transparency is at its peak during a crisis that has surpassed borders. Similar to China, independent reporting and citizen journalism have taken a hit in Iran as well.

We demand that Iran understands the gravity of the health crisis it is currently facing and allows the press to do its job without any restrictions. It will not only help citizens stay aware about the pandemic’s severity but also employ precautions for a healthier future of the nation.