A House Without Windows: The Ideological Isolation of A Regime

The legal framework of the Islamic Republic is specifically engineered to criminalize the act of having an independent voice. Vague and elastic charges such as "spreading corruption on earth," "propaganda against the state," and "disturbing public opinion" are used to target journalists, artists, and human rights defenders. The judiciary lacks independence, often relying on "confessions" extracted through physical and psychological torture in facilities like Evin Prison. By making the cost of debate prohibitively high—often resulting in long-term imprisonment, exile, or the death penalty—the regime creates a climate of pervasive fear. This systemic "legal" repression is intended to hollow out the intellectual and political leadership of the opposition, leaving the public without a cohesive voice to challenge the status quo.