10 May 2020 :

320 new arrests for "Spreading Rumors about the coronavirus". On Saturday, May 9, the Commander of Police said his forces have identified and dealt with 1,300 websites and arrested 320 individuals for "spreading rumors" about the spread of coronavirus on social media. Many believe that Iranian authorities hid the coronavirus outbreak for political reasons before finally admitting on February 19 that the virus had spread in Qom, Iran's religious capital, and had even killed two people. On April 28 (see HoC) 3,600 arrests for "spreading rumors about the coronavirus" had already been announced.