Iran Opposition

Monday, January 7, 2013

The Iranian regime monitors opposition abroad

Following the Iranian presidential elections in 2009, the situation for the opposition in Iran has deteriorated further. The Iranian regime appears to have become increasingly nervous as several regimes in countries nearby have fallen during the so-called "Arab Spring". Surveillance of its own citizens, which has previously been far-reaching, has been extended even further. The Iranian regime monitors Iranian citizens and their use of social media. They are also monitoring the political activity of exiled Iranian nationals outside of Iran (so-called sur place activity).

The increased surveillance done by the Iranian regime and its tougher attitude towards opposition has led to a gradual increase in the number of Iranian nationals who have been granted protection in Sweden.The Migration Court of Appeal (Migrationsöverdomstolen) made a ruling on 16 September that has to do with the issue of sur place. The court's decision is binding for the Swedish Migration Board and in the new legal standing (rättsligt ställningstagande) taken on 1 November, the Board has taken this judgement into consideration along with the information that is available about the situation in Iran. The conclusion reached is that the Iranian regime has both a strong desire and the ability to monitor its citizens abroad.
- It is clear that, since the presidential elections in 2009, the Iranian regime has further sharpened its tone towards the opposition. The regime has both the desire and the ability to monitor its citizens to a great extent, including abroad, says Mikael Ribbenvik, Director for Legal Affairs at the Swedish Migration Board.