They Left Iran, but Now the Regime Is Seizing Their Assets to Silence Them

The Iranian authorities are pursuing diaspora dissidents and journalists, extending the government’s repressive apparatus far beyond its borders. Yeganeh Torbati spoke to 12 Iranians living abroad whose property in Iran, or that of their family members, was targeted for confiscation. The retired couple in Iran first realized that something was wrong when their bank cards stopped working in early May.

After inquiring with the authorities, they discovered that their assets had been frozen by order of the country’s intelligence ministry. The couple learned, eventually, that they were being punished for the actions of their daughter Noushin Najafiragheb, who lived in Europe — specifically, for her social media posts opposing the Iranian government, according to another daughter, Mehrnoush Najafiragheb. Across Iran, the government has used asset seizures as punishment for actions taken abroad.

Homes and businesses have been seized, life savings raided, family heirlooms taken.