A medical student posted threats on TikTok meant to silence critics of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Recording videos from an office at Lærdal Hospital in January, he called out two named opponents—based in Sweden—of the Iranian regime. Of one alleged former patient he says
It was I who gave the order for the state to give you your hearing aid.
After naming a woman, he continues:
I know about all the [three] abortions you have had. Don’t try to spread lies for a few bites of food from the enemy, it will only lead to you losing all honour. Today is Sunday, January 4. Sharpen up, or I will force you to do it.
The threat rests on the idea that the 34-year-old student’s professional position allows him to access patient information. This was reinforced by the videos’ hospital setting and the pro-Iranian messenger wearing standard Norwegian hospital scrubs. These circumstances also prevent him from being named in the media, in order to protect the anonymity of his alleged patients.
While this individual claimed to be a surgeon and oncologist, his medical licence from Sweden expired on July 1st last year. Norway’s Helse Førde, which runs Lærdal Hospital, has disclosed that he performed shifts there, from where the TikTok videos were filmed—which the medical student says are not actual threats but political statements in a public debate. He also denies membership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
