Photo: Getty
I joined BBC West Midlands on Wednesday morning to explain the nationwide protests in Iran over compulsory hijab and the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
I describe Iran’s “morality police”, the circumstances around Amini’s detention and death, and the subsequent demonstrations for women’s rights and for political and social rights for all Iranians.
These protests may not succeed today. They may not succeed next month. But Iran is a country which is changing, and you hope that people who are protesting peacefully get some kind of support — even as the Iranian leadership finds it is not universally accepted with its repression.
Listen to Discussion from 1:08.57
Iran’s Hijab Protests Challenge Legitimacy of A Weakened Regime
[Editor: This is a claim by the Deputy Interior Minister — it is *not* a statement by Mahsa Amini’s father.]
Father of Mahsa Amini, in a video, confirms no blows to her head: https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1401/07/19/2786833
[Editor: Commenter omits the context of this:
“Regardless of its origins, the slogan has been adopted throughout the demonstrations, which have so far left at least 133 dead, according to rights groups, and seen mass arrests of activists and journalists….
Massoumeh Torfeh, a research associate at LSE and SOAS, University of London, specialising on Iran and Afghanistan said that, so far, the protests had largely focused on the hijab issue rather than drawing in the “Kurdish question”.
“The protests are about women’s freedom to choose what they wear. This killing, just for hijab, was a first,” said Massoumeh, speaking to Middle East Eye, adding it had “enraged people across the country”.
“But Kurdistan took the lead in condemning the morality police and other authorities.”]
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iran-women-life-freedom-mahsa-amini-protests
“One slogan that originated in the Kurdish movement, in particular, has spread from the Kurdish region to become the banner of the uprising: “Women, life, freedom”. The slogan is thought to have been coined by Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned founder of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a Kurdish armed group founded in Turkey in 1978 that since the 1980s has fought a guerilla war with the Turkish state.”
BBC’s Stephen Sackur interviews Masih Alinejad: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001ccyh/hardtalk-masih-alinejad-journalist-and-campaigner
[Editor: Edited video to put out the regime’s line on the events in Zahedan — Significantly, there is no reference to the events leading up to the confrontation outside the police station, including security forces killing scores of demonstrators and Friday prayer worshippers by firing from rooftops.]
Video showing the armed attack on the police station in Zahedan (Baluchistan): https://www.aparat.com/v/1OW9t
Iran reportedly preparing for a ground invasion of Iraqi Kurdistan: https://twitter.com/OrderofAlamut/status/1580316309300031493?cxt=HHwWisCtie_TtO4rAAAA
The last time Iranian troops moved into Iraq was in 1996.
[Editor: Standard regime lines via Marandi — Nothing of news value beyond that.]
Mohammad Marandi interviewed by Christiane Amanpour: https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2022/10/12/amanpour-iran-protests-mohammad-marandi.cnn
1. The protests lasted a few days but quickly became riots.
2. They have been very violent, resulting in 24 police/Basij lives. Rioters and separatists/terrorists have attacked police stations and paramilitary bases.
3. On campus, only about 300 students at the University of Tehran have been demonstrating.
4. Bigtech is being used to fan the flames.
5. Dismisses talk of indoctrination camps for those arrested.
[Editor: This reply about Marandi ignores his role as a de facto spokesman for Iran’s authorities.]
He is in Iran (although right now in Seoul) and can see things there for himself. He does not have to rely on dubious specially-prepared social media videos.
The NS adviser thought Raisi referred to protesters as “flies” but had been misinformed
You try to smooth over raisi’s garbage speech, well you just make it worst.
JS’s interpretation is how exactly raisi referred to people as, flies. Except that his incompetence in spewing his usual garbage backfired, as often does.
If you don’t know what is mean by “ای مگس عرصه سیمرغ”, then you need an education. He was referring to those supporting the protests outside of Iran.
“He was referring to those supporting the protests outside of Iran.”
You and raisi are the illiterates here. “عرصه سیمرغ”
Simorgh, the mythical bird symbolizes “high human spirit”.
Mohammad Jamshidi slaps down Jake Sullivan: https://twitter.com/MhmmdJamshidi/status/1579745006352732161?cxt=HHwWgsDQtdTtsOwrAAAA
The NS adviser thought Raisi referred to protesters as “flies” but had been misinformed. The Iranian adviser to the president leaked the fact that Sullivan has persistently been calling for direct talks with Iranian officials.