Starlink ban in Iran: Whip and prison for users threaten!

Starlink ban in Iran: Whip and prison for users threaten!

Tehran, Iran - The Iranian Parliament recently decided to ban the use of the American satellite internet service Starlink in the country. This ban was taken into concern by many and could have serious consequences for the users. As Oe24 , violations of this ban can be punished with fines, whipping and even up to two years in prison. These decisions still have to be approved by the guardian council, but consent is usually considered a matter of form.

Starlink, operated by SpaceX under the direction of Elon Musk, is considered one of the few alternatives for Iranians, while the Internet is switched off in political unrest. During a twelve -day conflict with Israel, the Internet in Iran was completely switched off to control the flows of information, which significantly restricted people in their communication. In this situation, access to Starlink was an important way to get information and to exchange information, as well as n-tv noted.

punishment and political measures

The new law not only aims at the use of Starlink, but also includes an expansion of punishments for alleged espionage, which can be punished in particularly severe cases with the death penalty. These regulations fuel fears that they are primarily used to intimidate critics of the regime and to reinforce the repressive course of leadership.

observers agree that the exact definitions of the new laws are unclear, but fear that they could be used as an excuse to silence unpopular voices. The first use of Starlink devices in Iran was noticed in 2022, the illegal reception systems were sold on the black market for around 2000 euros, which is far above the original price and also exceeds the financial means of many average households.

repression on the Internet and against freedom of expression

Development in Iran is in the context of a repressive environment that applies not only to Starlink users. According to Freedom House , journalists and users of social media are regularly arrested. The reasons for this are diverse, from critical statements to journalistic reporting on state grievances. Prominent cases such as the convictions of musicians and bloggers illustrate the dangerous situation for everyone who comments against the regime.

These repressive measures are not new. Since the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, Internet restrictions have been issued to suffocate protests in the bud and to control public opinion. With the new legislation it becomes clear that the Iranian authorities are willing to impose high punishments for the use of technologies that could give the public a voice in the current information war.