Iran’s State TV Tries To Feign Hack To Undermine Popular Protest

A short clip of opposition views aired by Iran’s state broadcaster on Friday created speculations that the state TV was hacked but it turned out not to be the case.

The clip was aired intentionally as part of Tehran’s propaganda to undermine popular protests and link it to foreign-based figures advocating what the TV believes are extremist views.

For a couple of minutes a video clip showed Iranian singer-songwriter Shahin Najafi as well as some other outspoken critics of the regime.

Najafi said the main issue in the Islamic Republic is not only hijab – or the compulsory dress code – but the entire regime. “This is not the ultimate goal of the protesters,” he said, adding that the final goal is overthrowing the Islamic Republic.

“Alcohol must be legal; discos must be legal; dancing and concerts should be legal,” he said, noting that this regime should not last.

The attempt was meant to promote the Islamic Republic’s propaganda that the ongoing protests are because of Mahsa Amini’s death, but a conspiracy to overthrow the regime.

During the past few days Anonymous hacking group has been targeting many websites belonging to the Islamic Republic entities and organizations, including the official websites of President Ebrahim Raisi and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The group started its cyber operations against the Islamic Republic in solidarity with the ongoing protests.

The hacking group targeted many other state-run websites and services and claimed that more than 2,000 street surveillance cameras were also hacked to prevent the government from surveying the protests and identifying people.