Iran is sinking into darkness. Unplugged from the internet and almost ignored by the international media because of demonstrations in Hong Kong and elsewhere, Tehran is methodically clamping down on protesters who rose against the government’s decision to introduce petrol rationing and price hikes.
Amnesty International said at least 106 protesters in 21 cities had been killed. Other reports suggest the throne of blood of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had claimed the lives of as many as 200 people since the price hikes were announced November 14.
Iranian authorities did not provide information about how many protesters had been killed but the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in a statement, announced the death of three members of its subordinate Basij in clashes with protesters.
The regime organised pro-government rallies and demonstrations November 19 and Khamenei declared victory. Addressing a large group of Iranian businessmen, Khamenei appeared oddly out of touch with reality and focused on “expanding public welfare,” “lesser dependency on oil” and “safeguarding the economy against the effect of the sanctions.”
In his only reference to the protests, Khamenei said: “The Iranian nation has forced the enemy to retreat in military, political and security fields. For example, during the events of the past few days, which was not the work of the people.”
It was not clear who Khamenei perceives as the enemy but the regime is killing poverty-stricken protesters and is cheered by the censured media.
Javan, mouthpiece of the IRGC, editorialised November 20: “The seditionists were well trained… they were violent, did not chant slogans, had no demands and were carrying tools and instruments to destroy and ravage.”
Javan pointed a finger at the United States for masterminding and embracing the protests and to “foreign nationals from an eastern neighbouring country,” presumably Afghanistan, and members of “a separatist movement,” who were allegedly involved in arson against banks and petrol stations.
Kayhan, usually considered Khamenei’s mouthpiece and Iran’s most conservative newspaper, dedicated its editorial to condemn “nihilist hooligans” but also attacked reformist publications Shargh and Arman for inciting the public by explaining the effects of the cabinet’s price adjustment policy.
Shameless lies of Javan and Kayhan can’t hide the facts: The protests took place in poor suburbs of large cities and low-income neighbourhoods of major population centres. The protesters were not well-trained mercenaries or Afghans or Kurdish separatists but ordinary Iranian citizens who no longer can afford three meals a day.
They were not incited by reformist newspapers, for the simple reason that they can no longer afford to buy newspapers, and they had slogans and demands that can be summarised in one word: Dignity. Something the Islamic Republic is denying them.
As for the United States masterminding the protests and embracing them, one looks in vain for the slightest action by US President Donald Trump and his administration to support the people of Iran, whose cause they, at times, claim to champion against the oppressive regime of the Islamic Republic.
A decade after complaining about former US President Barack Obama’s lack of solidarity with Iranian protesters in 2009, the reaction of the mighty United States was limited to two tweets.
US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell posted on Twitter about the United States having “the ability to turn the internet on for the people of Iran and ensure it is free of government blockers.” US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on November 17, tweeted: “As I said to the people of Iran almost a year and half ago: The United States is with you.”
There is no sign of the United States acting on its abilities to “turn the internet on for the people of Iran” and Pompeo’s moral support reminds the Iranian people of the sad truth: They are on their own.
No comments:
Post a Comment