Khamenei Tells Judiciary to Tackle Dissent with “Discipline and Consistency”

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has urged the Iranian judiciary to have a "systematic approach" toward individuals who are using both virtual and physical spaces to “disturb people's mental security and create fear.”

Addressing a group of judiciary employees on June 27, he called on the judiciary to deal with such individuals with "careful planning, discipline and consistency."

The leader of the Islamic Republic also lamented that "media and advertisements are not effectively utilized to showcase and inform the public about the extensive work” carried out by the judiciary.

Khamenei’s remarks come amid a fierce clampdown on dissent and the media in the country.

Security forces have arrested users of the Clubhouse virtual network, while the authorities have summoned media activists and journalists to appear before revolutionary courts.

Iranian media outlets have also warned against increased government censorship of domestically produced TV series.

The authorities have cracked down hard on months-long nationwide demonstrations sparked by the September death in police custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. 

More than 520 people were killed during protests and over 20,000 others were unlawfully detained, including many journalists and artists, activists say. 

Following biased trials, the judiciary has handed down stiff sentences, including the death penalty, to protesters.