Photo: Associated Press
As Iran’s protests enter their 12th week, I recorded a video for The Guardian summarizing my conversations with those who are demonstrating.
I explain why many of the protesters are risking everything — homes, jobs, education, lives — to seek rights, justice, and security.
The people I’m speaking with — they do not want us to call this “protests” anymore. They tell me this is the Iranian Revolution….
They’re fighting to live a life of dignity. They’re fighting to live a life where they can go to the streets and protest, and they don’t get killed or shot at or arrested for it.
See also UPDATES: Iran Protests —Regime Says It Is Reviewing Compulsory Hijab
[Editor’s Note: The regime has presented no evidence that strikes during the nationwide protests since September 16 have involved threats against marketers and truck drivers.]
Head of Judiciary issues warning ahead of planned strikes: https://www.isna.ir/news/1401091409154
“Judicial, law enforcement and security authorities should identify and prosecute those who threaten marketers and truck drivers that if they don’t strike, they will set fire to their shops and trucks.”
3 days of protests and strikes have been announced beginning today and ending on Wednesday which is Student Day in Iran.
Meanwhile, more heavy sentences against rioters will be announced soon: https://www.mehrnews.com/news/5647451
[Editor’s Note: The links are from 1) Revolutionary Guards outlet Fars and 2) a pro-regime Twitter account. The claims are unverified.]
Shopkeepers throughout the country have had to shut their businesses to protect their stores from being torched by rioters: https://www.radareghtesad.ir/news/35475
“A number of rioting elements were present in Tehran’s Shad Abad iron market and threatened and incited the shopkeepers and marketers to shut down”
Rioters have been talking about destroying trucks of drivers refusing to strike: https://twitter.com/Safarnejad_IR/status/1599184726102638594
This has been the chant of [protesters] throughout the unrest: https://twitter.com/begoonah1/status/1573240079400804353
“امسال سال خون سید علی سرنگونه “: “THIS IS THE YEAR OF BLOOD! SEYED ALI WILL BE OVERTHROWN!”
These protesters have managed to shed the blood of 63 security officers.
[Editor’s Note: De facto regime spokesman Seyed Mohammad Marandi repeats the cover story about the punishment of the Rekabi family.]
Marandi tells the truth about the Rekabi house demolition: https://mobile.twitter.com/s_m_marandi/status/1599393470157709313
“The family holliday villa of this woman’s family was built illegally alongside a river. The villa along with those of other law-breaking rich Iranians was demolished based on an earlier court ruling.”