Iranian authorities are using a tactic that's as old as it is despicable: forced confessions. In recent weeks, at least 240 of these coerced confessions have been aired on state TV after thousands were arrested following widespread protests against the clerical leadership.
These "confessions" are extracted through psychological and physical torture, making them suspect, to say the least. Detainees are shown admitting to a range of alleged crimes, from violence against security forces to sharing images with banned groups or media outlets. In some cases, people are even accused of merely following accounts of opponents on social media.
Activists claim these so-called confessions are nothing more than propaganda videos designed to manufacture legitimacy and create a false narrative that protesters are dangerous criminals. The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran has warned that such "false confessions" aim to reinforce the state's narrative, deterring dissent.
The use of coerced confessions is an "unprecedented scale" according to Iranian authorities. They're being used as a tool to humiliate and destroy dissidents' credibility while reminding the public of the high cost of challenging the state.
Iran's judiciary chief has taken the lead in interrogating detainees, with some sessions broadcast on state TV. These sessions aim to create a false narrative framing peaceful protesters as violent agents of foreign influence, deterring dissent.
The protests began over economic grievances but grew into a mass movement against the Islamic republic. Thousands were killed in an ensuing crackdown, which has for now abated. The authorities blame the unrest on Iran's enemies, including Israel and the United States.
More than 41,000 people have been arrested in the crackdown, with over 240 instances of "forced confessions" recorded. One widely shared case involves a teen being questioned over killing a security force member and then told he would face charges that could see him executed.
These broadcasts have been used before to pave the way for executions. In one notorious case, the formerly Paris-based dissident Ruhollah Zam was subjected to an interrogation on Iranian TV before his execution in December 2020. Foreigners, including French citizens Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, have also faced this treatment.
The Center for Human Rights in Iran has condemned these broadcasts, stating that they're "routinely used as the sole evidence to convict" and that by forcing dissidents to publicly 'confess', the state legitimises its repression and uses the televised confessions as proof of guilt.
These "confessions" are extracted through psychological and physical torture, making them suspect, to say the least. Detainees are shown admitting to a range of alleged crimes, from violence against security forces to sharing images with banned groups or media outlets. In some cases, people are even accused of merely following accounts of opponents on social media.
Activists claim these so-called confessions are nothing more than propaganda videos designed to manufacture legitimacy and create a false narrative that protesters are dangerous criminals. The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran has warned that such "false confessions" aim to reinforce the state's narrative, deterring dissent.
The use of coerced confessions is an "unprecedented scale" according to Iranian authorities. They're being used as a tool to humiliate and destroy dissidents' credibility while reminding the public of the high cost of challenging the state.
Iran's judiciary chief has taken the lead in interrogating detainees, with some sessions broadcast on state TV. These sessions aim to create a false narrative framing peaceful protesters as violent agents of foreign influence, deterring dissent.
The protests began over economic grievances but grew into a mass movement against the Islamic republic. Thousands were killed in an ensuing crackdown, which has for now abated. The authorities blame the unrest on Iran's enemies, including Israel and the United States.
More than 41,000 people have been arrested in the crackdown, with over 240 instances of "forced confessions" recorded. One widely shared case involves a teen being questioned over killing a security force member and then told he would face charges that could see him executed.
These broadcasts have been used before to pave the way for executions. In one notorious case, the formerly Paris-based dissident Ruhollah Zam was subjected to an interrogation on Iranian TV before his execution in December 2020. Foreigners, including French citizens Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris, have also faced this treatment.
The Center for Human Rights in Iran has condemned these broadcasts, stating that they're "routinely used as the sole evidence to convict" and that by forcing dissidents to publicly 'confess', the state legitimises its repression and uses the televised confessions as proof of guilt.
I mean, can you believe what's happening in Iran? The way they're using torture and coercion to get people to admit to stuff they didn't even do... it's just horrific 
. These "confessions" are basically propaganda at this point, but the authorities just keep on playing them out like they're real. It's so despicable 
.
. The fact that thousands of people were arrested, and some even killed, just to bring attention to economic issues, only for the authorities to turn it into a story about "foreign influence" and "violence"... it's just not right 
.
. The thought of these 41,000 people being detained, and the hundreds of them getting forced to "confess"... it's just heartbreaking 
. We need to stand with the protesters and call out this blatant disregard for human rights! 
. The fact that they're using this tactic on thousands of people, with over 240 "confessions" aired on state TV, is just despicable 
.
. It's like they want to humiliate & destroy the credibility of dissidents while also reminding the public of the cost of speaking out against the state 
. They're blaming the unrest on Iran's enemies, like Israel & the US, which just sounds like they're trying to deflect responsibility 
.
just watched a video of someone being forced to confess to things they didn't do... it's like something out of a horror movie. these so-called "confessions" are basically scripted propaganda, and it's disgusting. anyone who dares to challenge the system is now being framed as a threat to national security 
. i don't get why people still support this kind of thing... isn't human life worth more than that? 
! These forced confessions are basically a form of psychological warfare, using fear and torture to get people to confess to crimes they didn't even commit. It's like something out of a bad movie 
, where the authorities are trying to break their detainees' spirits and make them seem like the enemy 
.
This is just so messed up... Coerced confessions are a classic move, but using them on a massive scale like this? It's insane. The way they're trying to frame peaceful protesters as violent agents of foreign influence is just propaganda at its finest. And let's not forget the psychological and physical torture that goes into these "confessions" - it's despicable.
It's just so sickening.
... I saw dolphins swimming beneath me and it was literally the most relaxing thing ever 
... anyway back to Iran... I mean what's up with these so-called "confessions" though? They just sound like they're trying to brainwash people into believing whatever propaganda is being spewed at them 
... and now I'm thinking about how much I love a good Greek salad 
, have you guys tried that new Greek restaurant downtown?
those 240+ "confessions" on state tv? 
its the ppl who are speakin out against their regime and demandin' change. 
& let's not even get started on the psychological torture 
. How can you expect people to believe these "confessions" when they've been tortured into saying whatever you want them to? It's like something out of a bad action movie, but in real life 
He's saying all these crazy things, like how he was involved in bombings and terrorism 
.
I mean, what even is that? It's like a real-life game of cat and mouse, but instead of fun, it's super scary and wrong