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Iran Broadcasts Alleged Forced Confessions
Human rights groups say Iran aired at least 97 “coercive confessions” from detained protesters over two weeks. The broadcasts coincided with the country’s longest internet blackout.
The videos show handcuffed detainees with blurred faces, appearing to express remorse. Footage also depicts staged attacks on security forces, with ominous music in the background.
Protesters Coerced Under Threat
Rights groups report that detainees were forced to confess under threat of torture or execution.
Ali Safavi, a senior official with the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), called the broadcasts a tactic to intimidate citizens and justify the killing of protesters.
Scale of Repression
According to the NCRI, authorities have killed at least 3,000 protesters during demonstrations over political repression, economic hardship, and security force abuses.
HRANA, a U.S.-based human rights group, said coerced confessions often follow physical or psychological torture. Some detainees face death sentences.
Internet Blackout Cuts Off Information
Iran’s internet has been shut down for more than 144 consecutive hours, one of the longest blackouts on record, according to NetBlocks.
The blackout blocks access to independent news, while state TV continues via satellite. The National Information Network also broadcasts government propaganda to households.
North Korea-Style Media Control
Experts compare Iran’s strategy to North Korea’s. Citizens lose access to global internet, while officials continue using whitelisted networks.
The blackout allows the government to control the narrative domestically and internationally, even as protests continue.
Ongoing Impact
The forced confessions and internet shutdown aim to suppress protests, but human rights advocates say these measures have not stopped public dissent.
