Table of Contents
Iran’s political system is actively targeting independent journalists, including those living in exile, as it seeks scapegoats during times of crisis. At the end of September, the Iranian judiciary announced the confiscation of assets belonging to individuals accused of cooperating with hostile governments, part of a plan targeting roughly 400 people abroad.
Asset Seizures and Family Pressure
Amir Soltanzadeh, an exiled freelance journalist who occasionally works for Germany’s international broadcaster DW, found his name on a government list labeled as “traitors to the homeland.” Soltanzadeh stated that the only property he owns in Iran is a bookshelf at his parents’ house, and noted that his bank account containing the equivalent of around €500 ($555) was frozen. He emphasized that every position he has taken aimed to improve the lives of people in Iran rather than act against the country.
According to Soltanzadeh, the pressure from his journalistic work extended to his family, causing his father to lose his job and subjecting his mother to constant anxiety. Some relatives even cut ties because they equated journalists working abroad with spies. Soltanzadeh was forced to cut direct contact with his family for several months, communicating only through an intermediary to ensure their safety.
Domestic Censorship and Vague Laws
Repression against independent reporters follows a recurring pattern in the Islamic Republic, where Western media outlets are often portrayed as agents of foreign intelligence services. Authorities utilize tools such as hacking social media accounts and intercepting conversations to gather evidence against contacts inside Iran.
An anonymous journalist in Iran told Deutsche Welle: “Journalists can only write on their personal pages in a very limited and censored way. In their reports, they are required to follow the government’s official narrative.”
While Article 24 of the Iranian constitution guarantees press freedom, the Press Law has been repeatedly expanded to prohibit endangering the Islamic Republic, insulting the clergy or Supreme Leader, and disseminating false information. These broadly worded provisions give authorities wide latitude to interfere in media operations.
Threats Following Reporters into Exile
The constant pressure and risk of being targeted force many journalists to leave the country entirely. Freelance journalist Omid Barin, who also occasionally contributes to DW, noted that his reporting on human rights violations and ethnic minorities forced him into exile.
Barin told Deutsche Welle that the pressure has made him much more cautious when communicating with sources inside Iran to avoid endangering them. Although he declined to share specific details about threats due to potential backlash against close contacts, he stated the message behind them is clear: someone wants him to quit journalism or avoid sensitive topics.
Barin continues to take strict precautions in his daily life and pays close attention to his personal security while living abroad because of his work with media outlets deemed hostile by the Iranian regime.
