The Impact of National Security Laws on Freedom of Movement: A Thematic Study
Keywords:
national security laws, freedom of movement, qualitative research, surveillance, Iran, spatial repression, legal ambiguityAbstract
This study aims to explore how national security laws affect individuals’ freedom of movement in Tehran, with a focus on the legal, psychological, and social dimensions of restricted mobility. This qualitative study employed a thematic analysis approach using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 21 participants residing in Tehran. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to ensure a diversity of perspectives regarding experiences with movement constraints under national security frameworks. Data collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. All interviews were conducted in Persian, recorded with consent, and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were analyzed using NVivo software through open, axial, and selective coding, following Braun and Clarke’s six-phase method of thematic analysis. Ethical protocols, including anonymity and voluntary participation, were strictly observed throughout the research process. Three main themes emerged: Legal and Structural Constraints, Psychological and Social Impacts, and Resistance and Coping Mechanisms. Participants described the ambiguous and discretionary nature of national security laws, experiences of surveillance, legal exclusion, and mobility zoning, as well as emotional distress, social withdrawal, and loss of institutional trust. Many adopted adaptive strategies such as legal navigation, digital anonymity, and underground mobility networks. Community-based solidarity also emerged as a key coping mechanism in response to spatial repression. National security laws in semi-authoritarian contexts like Iran produce multi-layered restrictions on freedom of movement through legal ambiguity, bureaucratic control, and psychological intimidation. These constraints have profound implications not only for physical mobility but also for personal identity, civic participation, and social cohesion. Addressing these issues requires both local advocacy for legal transparency and broader international scrutiny of internal mobility rights.
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