Armed plainclothes officers raid Tehran-area villa, detain 14 over Starlink - report

Fourteen young people were detained last week after armed plainclothes officers raided a villa outside Tehran where they had gathered to access Starlink internet and update their social media accounts, according to an activist.

The detainees, aged 23 to 38, were blindfolded, handcuffed and shackled, Golshan Fathi said, adding that officers broke cameras and seized equipment including hard drives and screens, and did not present a clear warrant before taking the group to an unknown location.

In short phone calls placed several days later from a private number, detainees were verbally told they were accused of “spying for Israel,” “cooperating with hostile media,” “propaganda against the system,” “attempting to overthrow” the government and “smuggling goods,” an apparent reference to Starlink equipment, she said.

Families have searched for their loved ones in Fashafouyeh, Qarchak and Evin prisons but they have not been told where the detainees are held.