America’s war on Iran was supposed to give Iranians their freedom. But even in February, at the start of the conflict, the prospects for regime change seemed doubtful. Now hardline IRGC generals appear to be calling the shots. They’ve used the war as a pretext to go after opponents and increase the Islamic Republic’s repression to horrific new levels. More than 6,000 people, including protesters, journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders, dissidents and members of ethnic and religious minorities have been detained under the guise of national security. Many are executed after being dragged through kangaroo courts.
As the world focuses on the dithering and blunders in Washington, the horrors being visited on the long-suffering Iranian people are rarely mentioned
As the world focuses on the dithering and blunders in Washington, the horrors being visited on the long-suffering Iranian people are rarely mentioned. Amnesty International has noted: ‘To maintain their grip on power, the authorities have unleashed an all-out assault on people in Iran.’ An internet shutdown lasting 88 days (partial online access was only restored on 26 May) prevented reporting of human rights violations and allowed the authorities to act with even greater impunity.
