Widespread seizure of property under the guise of confronting the "enemy" and intensifying economic pressure on the people
In the new judicial headline, the official narrative of the "security confrontation" has become a tool for expanding asset confiscation and intensifying financial pressure on society.
In the latest stance taken by the head of the Islamic Republic's judiciary, the issue of widespread seizure and confiscation of individuals' property has once again been raised; a measure that is justified by security rhetoric and under the guise of confronting "enemy collaborators," but in practice has intensified serious concerns about the expansion of confiscation of citizens' assets.
On Tuesday, April 21, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei announced that strict orders have been issued to identify and seize the assets of individuals who are referred to in official literature as “collaborators and companions of the aggressor enemy.” He also emphasized that if the charges are proven, the punishment process must be carried out quickly and without administrative complications; a phrase that critics see as a sign of reducing the minimum standards of justice and increasing the speed of judicial proceedings.
This new approach follows a statement issued by the Judiciary Media Center on April 19, which announced the issuance of a judicial order to identify and seize assets and block accounts of individuals associated with foreign services, hostile networks, and subversive movements. What is noteworthy is the breadth of the scope of these accusations, as the official report mentions a range of people in society, including artists, athletes, business activists, bloggers, and journalists.
At the level of individual narratives, some people abroad have also reported direct consequences of these policies. An Iranian female journalist living abroad told VOA that her family in Iran had received text messages about “change of ownership of documents,” which is interpreted as the transfer or seizure of assets without the direct knowledge of the person living abroad.
Economic journalist Reza Ghaibi has also announced that all of his assets and those of his relatives in Iran have been seized and his family members' bank accounts frozen. He described these measures as a form of systematic pressure on individuals who are critical or associated with media outlets abroad.
Meanwhile, in other statements on April 20, Ejei spoke of the "wartime order of justice" and called for the abandonment of part of the normal judicial procedure in security cases; a phrase that, from the perspective of many observers, is considered a sign of the complete security of judicial processes in Iran.
Continuing the same security approach, he also emphasized the need to expedite the execution of severe sentences. According to published reports, in addition to orders related to the seizure of property and financial settlements, there has also been a strong emphasis on “not delaying the execution of final sentences,” an issue that has raised human rights concerns, especially regarding severe punishments, including the death penalty. Critics say that such general and hasty orders can pave the way for reduced judicial accuracy and an increased likelihood of error in sensitive cases.
At the same time, numerous reports have been published about security institutions such as the IRGC Intelligence Organization and the Ministry of Intelligence becoming active in arresting citizens, and some sources have also reported an acceleration in the execution of severe judicial sentences, including executions.
Overall, what is presented as “countering influence and communication with the enemy” has in practice become a broad mechanism for controlling assets, restricting the economy, and pressuring a wide range of citizens. Critics say that this process, instead of focusing on judicial transparency, has become a tool for spreading an atmosphere of economic fear and public distrust, further blurring the line between national security and citizen rights.
