What Iran’s protest slogans tell us about the uprising
The Washington Post, October 21, 2022
For five weeks, Iranian protesters have braved a brutal crackdown to challenge the country’s authoritarian clerical rulers, drawing the world’s attention — and the efforts of commentators in the West to explain what the demonstrators want.
.. “Death to the shah, death to the religious leader” — captures a consistent repudiation of autocratic rule, be it a king or a cleric. “The binary canceling one system in favor of another one no longer represents the ideals of the protesters,”
..“Independence, freedom, optional hijab,” one slogan goes.
….“Woman, life, freedom,”
…“Islamic Republic, we don’t want,”
..“Don’t call it a protest,” university students shout in videos shared online. “Call it a revolution.” Read More
Tens of Thousands in Iran Mourn Mahsa Amini, Whose Death Set Off Protests
The New York Times, October 26, 2022
A day of mourning for Mahsa Amini, the young woman whose death sparked a protest movement in Iran, was marred by violence on Wednesday as security forces attacked and shot at demonstrators in parts of the country, according to media reports, rights groups and videos posted on social media.
By evening, demonstrations had spread across the country to many cities and university campuses, with large crowds in the streets clapping and defiantly chanting the mantras of the protests: “Women, Life, Freedom” and “We will fight and take Iran back,” according to videos on social media.
In the capital, Tehran, women tossed their head scarves onto bonfires in the street, shouting “Freedom! Freedom!” videos showed. In many places, the protesters condemned the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and chanted for his death and removal. Read More
Iran protests spark solidarity rallies in the U.S. and Europe
NPR, October 23, 2022
WASHINGTON — Chanting crowds marched in the streets of Berlin, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles on Saturday in a show of international support for demonstrators facing a violent government crackdown in Iran, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of that country’s morality police.
On the U.S. National Mall, thousands of women and men of all ages — wearing green, white and red, the colors of the Iran flag — shouted in rhythm. “Be scared. Be scared. We are one in this,” demonstrators yelled, before marching to the White House. “Say her name! Mahsa!”
The demonstrations, put together by grassroots organizers from around the United States, drew Iranians from across the Washington D.C. area, with some traveling down from Toronto to join the crowd. Read More
Congressional Briefing on Iran Protests includes two Maryland Congressmen
ABC Baltimore, October 21, 2022
Mahsa Amini’s death at the hands of police last month sparked worldwide protests calling for freedom in Iran.
On Friday afternoon, the Organization of Iranian American Communities held a virtual Congressional briefing on the ongoing situation in Iran, where many more people have been killed and injured during protests.
According to Dr. Ramesh Sepehrrad, a professor of Middle East Studies at the University of Baltimore and a leader at the OIAC, more than 400 people have been killed and thousands have been arrested.
The people of Iran are sending us a clear message says , Dr. Majid Sadeghpour, the political director of OIAC, “we know all of Iran is united for freedom and democracy.” Read More
Designation of Iranian Officials and Entities Connected to Ongoing Protest Repression, Censorship, and Prison Abuses
State.gov, October 26, 2022
It has been 40 days since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s so-called “Morality Police,” and we join her family and the Iranian people for a day of mourning and reflection.
The United States is committed to supporting the Iranian people and ensuring that those responsible for the brutal crackdown on the ongoing nationwide protests in Iran are held accountable. Today, we are announcing a joint action between the State and Treasury Departments designating 14 individuals and three entities using five different authorities, demonstrating our commitment to use all appropriate tools to hold all levels of the Iranian government to account. Read More
Sunni cleric challenges Iran’s leaders as protests rage
Reuters, October 26, 2022
DUBAI, Oct 26 (Reuters) – A prominent Sunni cleric who directed unprecedented criticism at Iran’s supreme leader over a bloody crackdown in his hometown appeared unbowed this week by warnings from security forces, pressing his demands for more rights for his minority and voicing support for other groups in country-wide unrest.
Molavi Abdolhamid has long been a dissenting voice seeking better living standards and more political representation for the Sunni minority in the mostly Shi’ite Islamic Republic, including the Baluchi ethnic group to which he belongs and the Kurdish population. Iran’s government denies discrimination against Sunnis.
His criticism has escalated since the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman in police custody on Sept. 16 ignited nationwide protests, in which more than 250 people have been killed according to rights groups. Read more
Not Heard Elsewhere
News From Inside Iran
Compiled by NCRI
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