Activists say hundreds arrested in Iran, dozens executed in post-war fallout
Campaigners have been detained on the street or at home, executions expedited, prisoners transferred to unknown locations and minorities also targeted, according to rights groups.
Six men have been hanged on charges of spying for Israel since the start of the conflict, dozens more on other charges and more than 1,000 arrested during or after the conflict on charges related to the war, according to Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based NGO.
It said the majority of those detained were people whose mobile devices were searched and content such as footage of Israeli military actions was reportedly discovered.
A funeral procession in Tehran for military commanders and nuclear scientists killed during the 12-day conflict with Israel. Photo: AFP
Leading campaigners arrested include the freedom of speech activist Hossein Ronaghi, while other figures such as rapper Toomaj and activist Arash Sadeghi were released after being roughly arrested and interrogated, according to reports.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
China's Huawei must face US criminal charges, judge rules
A US judge on Tuesday rejected Huawei Technologies' bid to dismiss most of a federal indictment accusing the Chinese telecommunications company of trying to steal technology secrets from US rivals and misleading banks about its work in Iran. Advertisement In a 52-page decision, US District Judge Ann Donnelly in Brooklyn found sufficient allegations in the 16-count indictment that Huawei engaged in racketeering to expand its brand, stole trade secrets from six companies, and committed bank fraud. The Iran accusations stemmed from Huawei's alleged control of Skycom, a Hong Kong company that did business in that country. Donnelly said prosecutors satisfactorily alleged Skycom 'operated as Huawei's Iranian subsidiary and ultimately stood to benefit, in a roundabout way', from more than US$100 million of money transfers through the US financial system. Huawei has pleaded not guilty and had sought to dismiss 13 of the 16 counts, calling itself 'a prosecutorial target in search of a crime'. Advertisement A trial is scheduled for May 4, 2026, and could last several months.
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
China's ethnic affairs overseer to take Communist Party helm in Xinjiang
A senior Chinese official with a background in water resources and ethnic affairs has been named as the new Communist Party boss of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region In a one-paragraph announcement on Tuesday, state news agency Xinhua said the party's Central Committee 'recently decided' that Chen Xiaojiang would serve as party secretary of Xinjiang. The move might clear the path for Chen, one of the 300 or so members of the Central Committee, to be promoted within the party's hierarchy, given that the Xinjiang party chief traditionally has a seat on the now 24-strong Politburo. Beijing regards the stability of the region – which covers one-sixth of China and is a vital road link to Central Asia and the Middle East – as critical for its international infrastructure push, the Belt and Road Initiative Chen's predecessor, Ma Xingrui , 'will be appointed to another position', according to the announcement. Chen, 63, heads to Xinjiang after a stint as the executive deputy minister of the United Front Work Department. The department is the party organ responsible for relations with non-party groups and individuals inside and outside mainland China, a brief that includes oversight of ethnic affairs and religious organisations within the country.
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Why the US could be China's biggest ally in holding back Asia's nuclear ambitions
Iran's crushing defeat in its brief but devastating war with Israel has sent shock waves far beyond the Middle East, casting fresh doubts on the viability of nuclear non-proliferation and raising fears of a renewed global push to acquire nuclear weapons. Without a credible nuclear deterrent, Tehran proved unable to effectively defend or retaliate against Israel's pre-emptive strikes on key personnel and nuclear facilities, despite its much-touted strategic alignment with China and Russia. Both China and Russia issued strong statements condemning Israel and the US but showed little inclination to intervene or offer tangible support when it mattered most. This left Tehran effectively isolated, despite its joint maritime drill with Beijing and Moscow in March – an exercise that now seems just a symbolic show of unity. Preoccupied with Russia's war in Ukraine and Western sanctions, President Vladimir Putin later clarified that Moscow's alliance with Tehran lacked joint defence commitments – serving to highlight Moscow's intent to avoid being dragged into direct conflict with Israel or the US.
