IRGC intelligence agents hack an LGBTI activist’s Telegram account

IRGC intelligence agents recently hacked the Telegram account of an imprisoned Iranian LGBTI rights activist, replacing her profile picture with propaganda messages.

The IRGC often hacks the social media accounts of LGBTI activists, in order to spread fear amongst the Iranian LGBTI community and limit activists’ ability to interact on social media. The fact that the IRGC agents gained access to Sareh’s account indicates that, if it wasn’t hacked, the agents may have obtained her Telegram login info from her via torture.

6Rang condemned the attack, and will continue its efforts to get Sareh and all other Iranians imprisoned because of their sexual and/or gender identity released. It has called upon all other human rights organisations to support its work.

“They (the Iranian government) want us to be silent and afraid of talking about our rights and our lived experiences, but if we play the game well, we can be active on social media and the Islamic Republic won’t be able to hurt us. If we take security measures that prevent the forces of repression from identifying us, we can continue to strike fear in the hearts of these forces. It is a fact that they are scared of us. Despite their huge, well-funded military apparatus, they fear us young people who only wish for a better world where our sexual and gender identities are recognised and we can be free to express our love. We urge everyone who has been in contact with Sareh to take the necessary security precautions,” a 6Rang spokesperson commented.

Knowing the high probability of being arrested, before trying to flee Iran, Sareh recorded a video and asked that it be released in the event of her arrest. 6Rang later the posted the video on its website.

Sareh has been imprisoned since 27 October, 2021, when she was arrested near the Iranian-Turkish border while trying to leave Iran without legal permission. Iranian state-run media had previously reported that the activist had been charged with human trafficking and promoting homosexuality but it now appears that these charges have been dropped due to lack of evidence. 6Rang has also learned that lately, after intense media pressure, Sareh’s relatives were able to meet with her in prison, and hire an attorney for her.

Homosexuality is a crime in Iran, and carries the death penalty. The Iranian government frequently also brings multiple false allegations against LGBTI rights activists.

6Rang (Iranian network of lesbians and transgender people)