The shop closures came amid calls for a three-day national strike to mark earlier protests in 2019 against Iran's theocracy that ended in a violent crackdown by authorities. However, this round of demonstrations after the September death of a 22-year-old woman earlier detained by the country's morality police have continued despite activists recording at least 344 deaths and 15,820 arrests so far.
The protests have seen prominent former players Ali Daei and Javad Nekounam both say they've declined a FIFA invitation to attend the World Cup in Qatar, where Iran will play.
Shuttered storefronts could be seen across Tehran, Iran's capital, on Tuesday. Several shops did remain open, however, as a heavy security presence could be seen on the streets.
In the Grand Bazaar, the beating heart of Tehran for hundreds of years that long has served as a political bellwether for Persian dynasties, store fronts were closed as a lone woman and a man pushing a cart walked among its narrow alleyways. A stray cat nibbled at trash down one of its silent warrens.
Videos taken earlier Tuesday showed crowds gathered outside of the closed shops, some shouting: “This year is a year of blood; Seyyed Ali will be toppled!” The chant, heard in other protests, refuses to use the title ayatollah to refer to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. An ayatollah is a high-ranking Shiite cleric and such calls targeting Khamenei can bring a death sentence in Iran's closed-door Revolutionary Courts.
Other online videos purported to show shops closed elsewhere in the country as well, with some scattered demonstrations taking place.
Like the other protests after the Sept. 16 death of Mahsa Amini, the demonstrations appeared largely leaderless. A call on social media had gone out demanding a national strike not to buy or sell anything to mark the 2019 protests in Iran that followed a hike in government-subsidized gasoline prices that activists say saw at least 321 people killed in a subsequent crackdown.
Strikes may increasingly put pressure on the Iranian government, which so far has dismissed the demonstrators' demands as a foreign plot by its enemies as opposed to an outpouring of public frustration.
Already, U.S. officials have said they received information from Saudi Arabia saying an attack by Iran on the kingdom may happen. The U.S. Navy said Tuesday it intercepted 70 tons of a missile fuel component on a ship heading from Iran to Yemen, where the country's Houthi rebels have repeatedly targeted Saudi Arabia with ballistic missile fire.
Widening the demonstrations into strikes and boycotts could further raise pressure on Iran's government, which already has seen its economy suffer under international sanctions after the collapse of its nuclear deal with world powers. So far though, it has yet to affect production in its crucial oil and natural gas industry.
The U.N. human rights office separately called on Iran’s government to immediately release thousands of people who have been detained for participating in peaceful protests.
Iran's theocracy has been trying to solidify its support amid the demonstrations, holding rallies to mark the Nov. 4, 1979, takeover and subsequent hostage crisis at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran.
It's also focused on Iran's upcoming appearance at the World Cup in Qatar. A prominent billboard in Tehran's Vali Asr Square typically used by hard-liners shows Iran's team heading into a match, apparently supported by warriors of its Persian past.
But two prominent former stars have said they won't go to the matches in Qatar. Ali Daei, a top international goal scorer and Iranian team captain, said he declined to go when his country was “grief-stricken.”
“I want to be with my compatriots and express sympathy with all those who have lost loved ones,” the former center-forward said.
Javad Nekounam, another star, similarly has declined to go to the World Cup, Iran's semiofficial ISNA news agency reported.
Iran may use mass executions to quell anti-hijab protests across country, human rights group warns
November 15, 2022
A Revolutionary Court in Tehran found an unnamed defendant guilty of "enmity against God" and sentenced the protester to death, drawing criticism and concern from human rights groups such as the Iran Human Rights NGO (IHRNGO) that this execution would be the first of many.
"Underlining the Islamic Republic's history of using the death penalty to create societal fear, Iran Human Rights warns of the possibility of hasty executions without any prewarning," the Norway-based group wrote online. "The organization calls on the international community to prevent such crimes with timely action."
The anti-hijab protester sentenced to death also faced charges of arson of a government building and "corruption on Earth," IHRNGO said, citing the judiciary’s news site Mizan. The group also claimed that at least 20 protesters face security-related charges that could carry the death penalty.
The regime famously pursued mass executions as part of a "death commission" in 1988, which punished dissidents and political prisoners.
The commission allegedly led to the deaths of roughly 4,500 to 5,000 men, women and children in prisons across Iran, according to Amnesty International. A former deputy of the ayatollah later claimed as many as 30,000 may have died.
IRAN PROTESTS RAGE ON STREETS AS OFFICIALS RENEW THREATS
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi allegedly took part in the commission, with many former victims identifying him as being "in the room" when they were questioned.
Protests broke out across Iran two months ago following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who allegedly breached the country’s laws regarding headscarves, called a hijab. The morality police arrested her and an hour later rushed her to a hospital after claiming she had "slipped into a coma."
But Amini’s family refuted the police report and said she had suffered injuries consistent with physical beatings. She died in hospital a few days later, and her death prompted protests that have now spread to over 140 cities and towns across Iran.
At least 326 protesters have died in violent crackdowns by security forces, IHRNGO claimed.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has put the total at closer to 341 deaths, with around 15,800 detained, according to the BBC.
The Islamic Republic News Agency reported that Judiciary Chief Gholam Hossein Ejei last week issued a statement that "rioters" would be dealt with "firmly and strongly based on law and fairness," claiming the protesters have "disturbed the security of people, disrupted their livelihood and insulted their sanctities."
Iran football legend Daei will not attend World Cup amid protests
November 14, 2022
Tehran, Iran – Iranian football legend Ali Daei will not travel to Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in solidarity with those participating in anti-government protests, which are in their eighth week despite a brutal crackdown and internet restrictions.
The 53-year-old former player, one of the country’s most recognisable sports figures, wrote to his 10.6 million followers on Instagram late on Monday that he has refused an invitation by football’s governing body FIFA and the Qatar Football Federation to travel with his wife and daughters “in these days when most of us are not well”.
Daei, now a football manager and businessman, said he did it to “be by your side in my homeland and express my sympathy with all the families who have lost loved ones these days” in a post that received two million likes within hours despite a ban on Instagram amid a nationwide throttling of the internet.
Iran summons German ambassador over Berlin’s support for Mahsa Amini protests
November 14, 2022
Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the German ambassador to Tehran, Hans Udo Muzel, over Chancellor Olaf Scholz's support for the ongoing protests in his country following the death of Mahsa Amini.
The ministerial portfolio has blamed Germany for the possible future crisis in bilateral relations between the two countries due to the effect of the "interventionist and unconstructive comments of the German Chancellor".
In this sense, it has assured that the Government of the country is supervising the measures to give "an appropriate response based on national interests", according to the Irna news agency.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani on Sunday described Scholz's comments as "provocative, meddlesome and undiplomatic", which sabotage the historic relationship between the two countries.
"We recommend the German government to find a way back to discretion to avoid further disruption of bilateral relations," said Kanaani, whose government has cleared the security forces of responsibility and blamed most of the protests on the actions of foreign powers.
In a podcast, Scholz sharply criticized the Iranian government's handling of the protests over the death in custody of young Mahsa Amini, which according to NGOs have left around 330 people dead as a result of repression.
"What kind of government is it that fires on its own people?" questioned Scholz, before adding that anyone who acts like this should expect resistance.
First Iranian Protester Is Sentenced to Death by Court for “Spreading Corruption on Earth”
November 14, 2022
According to state news agency IRNA, the person was given the sentence after setting fire to a government building. They were accused of "disturbing public order and peace, community, and colluding to commit a crime against national security, war and corruption on Earth, war through arson, and intentional destruction," the agency said Sunday, per CNN.
And at least five others who took part in the protests received sentences of five to 10 years in prison for allegedly disturbing the public peace, CNN reported.
The news comes after months of protests in the country, originally stemming from the death of Mahsa Amini in September, but ultimately fueled by the oppression citizens still face at the hands of the Islamic Republic.
Amini, 22, died at the hands of the country's morality police after being arrested for not properly wearing a hijab in public. Following her death, Iranian women took to the streets to burn their hijabs, chop off their hair, and stand up against police.
In an attempt to silence the protests, the Iranian government has shut off the Internet connection and blocked social media access across the country. Authorities have also charged at least 1,000 people in the Tehran province for their behavior and have killed at least 326 people, including 43 children and 25 women, nationwide, per Norway-based Iran Human Rights NGO.
The NGO noted that at least 20 protesters are currently facing charges punishable by death in Iran, per reports, and suggested that today's decision to carry out the death penalty may not be the last if the protests continue.
Despite the government crackdown, and ongoing arrests and killings, Iranians continue to fight back, and human rights organizations around the world continue to stand with them.
Sixteen U.N.-appointed human rights experts on Friday told Iranian authorities in a bold statement, "Stop using the death penalty as a tool to squash protests and reiterate our call to immediately release all protesters who have been arbitrarily deprived of their liberty for the sole reason of exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of opinion and expression, association and peaceful assembly and for their actions to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms through peaceful means."
Qatar 2022: Iran announce 26-man World Cup roster with Taremi as their key in attack
November 14, 2022
The 26-man Iran National team for the 2022 World Cup has been revealed. Under Carlos Queiroz management, the Asian team will play their 7th World Cup. Here its the complete list.
Iran had to deal with off-the-pitch situations to reveal their 26-man team for the 2022 World Cup. Even so, in the press conference held to release the list, head coach Carlos Queiroz didn't go. However, finally the complete players list for the Iran national team is here.
Iran were drawn in Group B of the 2022 World Cup with United States, Wales and England. This means the Team Melli will have it tough to qualify for the Round Of 16 stage. Especially when there's two UEFA teams in the same group. Instantly both are the favorites to qualify.
For the AFC qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, Iran won Group C with Iraq, Bahrain, Hong Kong, and Cambodia were drawn as well. A non-World Cup experienced group was certainly the easiest path for the Team Melli. In the third round, Iran also dominated their group with South Korea as their runners-up.
Despite Iran doesn't have huge stars in Europe, the team managed by Carlos Queiroz knows how to handle a tournament like this one. However, its difficult when Iran's best performances are have played the tournament, because Iran have never qualified for the Round of 16 Stage.
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Amir Abedzadeh (Ponferradina), Seyed Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal), Payam Niazmand (Sepahan)
Defenders: Ehsan Hajsafi (AEK Athens), Morteza Pouraliganji (Persepolis), Ramin Rezaeian (Sepahan), Milad Mohammadi (AEK Athens), Hossein Kanaanizadegan (Al Ahli), Shojae Khalilzadeh (Al Ahli), Sadegh Moharrami (Dinamo Zagreb), Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Majid Hosseini (Kayserispor), Abolfazl Jalali (Esteghlal)
Midfielders: Ahmad Noorollahi (Shabab Al Ahli), Saman Ghoddos (Brentford), Vahid Amiri (Persepolis), Saeid Ezatolahi (Vejle), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord), Mehdi Torabi (Persepolis), Ali Gholizadeh (Charleroi), Ali Karimi (Kayserispor)
How To Help Iran Protests 2022: Stand Up For Women, Life & Freedom
November 14, 2022
When I saw photos of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini for the first time, I felt like I was looking at someone who was a part of my family; someone I know without a doubt I would have loved had I known her. It’s a feeling every member of the Iranian diaspora is familiar with. And because the people of Iran desperately need our support and solidarity right now, it’s vital that we talk about how to help the protests in Iran.
Iranians rarely agree on everything. They often disagree on who’s to blame for the oppression that has gripped Iran like a disease for the past 40 years. They tend to have different opinions about what led to the 1979 revolution that overthrew the Pahlavi dynasty and subsequently replaced it with a regressive and oppressive dictatorship known as the Islamic Republic of Iran. And although there have been several protests in Iran since then, none have taken the world by a storm quite like this. Because of Mahsa Amini, Iranians all over world are united in their fierce determination to bring this brutal regime to an end. Their rallying cry—Women. Life. Freedom (zan, zendegi, azadi).
On October 1, a global call for anti-regime protests was answered. 20,000 people showed up to protest at Pershing Square in Los Angeles, proving that “Tehrangeles” is alive and well. Canadian police estimate that over 50,000 people showed up to march on Redmond Hill in Toronto. Even the brave women of Kabul, Afghanistan have taken to the streets to voice their support for the movement. Thousands have gathered for protests all over Europe and Asia. French actresses Marion Cotillard and Juliette Binoche have cut their hair in solidarity with the women of Iran. Even Balenciaga has posted a statement of support.
Although I was born in the United States, my mother was born in Kermanshah. She is Kurdish, just like Mahsa Jina Amini was, and she’s been living with survivor’s guilt ever since she escaped to this country as a teenager. Let it be known—I don’t know one Iranian person who’s life hasn’t been impacted by this regime on some level. We’ve lost loved ones to this regime. We have loved ones who are still there, living under the hammer of theocracy and dictatorship. Above all, we have had our country, culture and way of life stolen from us.
As a member of the Iranian-American diaspora, I am used to feeling like no one cares about us. To see this many people mobilizing in support of my mother’s people gives me a feeling of hope that I’ve never experienced before. No matter what happens, please don’t stop caring. By and large, Iranians feel immense gratitude when you share their stories and show them solidarity. They need to know that we’re with them; that we’re watching, listening and standing with them as this courageous grassroots movement continues to grow.
What Are The Iran Protests About?
On September 12, 2022, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman named Mahsa Jina Amini left her home in the Saqqez province, a region of Iran known as Kurdistan. She was on her way to visit her brother in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. By the time she reunited with her brother on September 13, she had been arrested by what is known as the “morality police” due to a few strands of hair peeking through her headscarf. They took her to a station to be “educated” on the law that requires all women in Iran to keep their hair covered. By September 16, she had fallen into a coma and was eventually pronounced dead. Although the Islamic Republic alleges that she died of a heart attack, Amini’s family claim she had no pre-existing heart problems. However, post-mortem CT scans show signs of skull fractures, hemorrhage and brain injury, painting a very different picture of what happened to her.
By September 17, the first protest erupted during Mahsa Amini’s funeral. Protests have since swept every corner of the country, launching a revolution that has been largely led by protestors born after 2000 (Iran’s Generation Z). Women—some as young as pre-teens—have been burning their headscarves, cutting their hair and chanting “death to the dictator”, uniting them in their shared fury. Images have been circulating of young schoolgirls flipping the bird at the portrait of the Ayatollah Khameini that hangs in every classroom in Iran. Men have also been at the forefront of these protests, because the demand for regime change did not just happen overnight. It’s the result of a dictatorship that regularly persecutes its own people and denies them the basic human right to self-expression. In Iran, singing and dancing can get you killed. So can being a member of the LGBTQ community. These protests are also taking place in a country with rapidly rising poverty levels and limited opportunities, as US-led economic sanctions against Iran have contributed to a pressure cooker of problems in Iranian society.
These protests have been met with violence at the hands of the Islamic Republic. According to Iran Human Rights—a Norway-based nonprofit—at least 154 people have been killed during the protests in Iran. Hundreds more have been arrested in severe crackdowns. When an Iranian person attends a protest, they know there’s a chance they won’t make it back home. Take 16-year-old Nika Shakarami, for example. On September 20, she left home to attend a protest in Tehran and disappeared for 10 days before her parents finally found her body at a morgue. “When we went to identify her, they didn’t allow us to see her body, only her face for a few seconds,” Atash Shakarami—Nika’s aunt—told BBC Persian. Government officials threatened her family and told them not to host a funeral. They later stole Nika’s body, making sure that she was quickly buried in secret and laid to rest far away from home, presumably to prevent her from becoming a martyr. She was supposed to turn seventeen on October 2, the same day her family was finally able to transfer her body back to her father’s hometown of Khorramabad.
Mahsa Amini and Nika Shakarami deserved a future. Their lives were—and continue to be—sacred. And because they can no longer use their voice, we must be their voice for them. There is no other option, as the fight for women, life and freedom affect us all, regardless of where we are located. Here are a few ways you can support Iranians during this historic moment, because one thing is for sure—Iranians need us to keep talking about this. Their lives depend on it.
How To Help Protestors In Iran
1. Be their voice
Due to massive internet blackouts in Iran and the Islamic Republic severely limiting social media access, international awareness of these protests has been slow to spread. These internet crackdowns have robbed Iranians of their voice, which means they need the rest of the world to be their voice for them. If you do one thing to provide help to the protests in Iran, let it be this—talk about it. Ask questions and educate yourself. Don’t be afraid to speak up or participate in this movement. Sharing information about these protests online and staying informed has a much more positive impact than you might think. As global scrutiny of the protests intensifies, so does the mounting pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran.
2. Follow Iranian activists
The best way to receive up-to-date information about the Iran protests is by following Iranian activists and journalists on social media. Here are a few Instagram accounts to follow:
3. Call your representatives
So far, the Biden administration has released statements of support for the women and anti-government protestors of Iran. They have also given tech companies permission to provide internet support and social media messaging to the people of Iran. However, some of these apps require paid subscriptions, which can be unaffordable for the many Iranians currently living under the strain of U.S.-imposed sanctions.
Right now, Iranian activists are calling on President Biden to halt negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA).This deal would pump money directly into the pockets of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which absolutely sends the wrong message at the moment. This dictatorship needs to know that there are consequences to their violence. Therefore, it’s imperative that we call our government representatives and demand that the United States put nuclear talks with Iran on hiatus. As long as the Islamic Republic continues to use violence as a means of controlling and punishing peaceful protestors, a nuclear deal with Iran should not be signed. Hadi Gheimi—executive director of CHRI and human rights activist—is also asking President Biden to demand action from the United Nations in New York and the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. There must be accountability for every life the Islamic Republic of Iran takes.
4. Attend a protest
October 1, 2022 was a day of global anti-Iranian government protests all around the world. This is a powerful time to organize, rally and show support by attending a protest in or near your city. Whether you’re simply driving by the protest and honking your horn in solidarity or you’re designing your own poster and chanting with other Iranians, your presence at a protest is always welcomed and appreciated. Although it’s impossible for everyone at a protest to share the same views, rallying together for a uniting cause is incredibly symbolic (and ultimately healing). Together, we can focus on the task at hand—to support the people of Iran and show them that we have their back.
5. Make a donation
Due to U.S. sanctions against Iran, we can’t send money directly to the protestors in Iran. However, here are some notable and reputable organizations that you can donate to:
The Iranian Diaspora Collective—Because mainstream media coverage has been lacking, this coalition of writers, artists, journalists and professionals of the Iranian diaspora seek to invest 100% of the funds into “purchasing advertising (billboards, print media, and digital media) in high-visibility locations.” This will enable them to “accelerate and extend the momentum related to the women-led protests in Iran.” Help create global visibility for what’s going on in Iran by sending donations to this GoFundMe.
The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI)—The whole purpose of this organization is to protect and fight for human rights in Iran. They will use funds to document and research all incidences of human rights violations that take place in Iran. You can make a donation here.
The Abdorrahman Boroumand Center—is a non-profit non-governmental non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of human rights and democracy in Iran. They monitor human rights violations in Iran and make them public knowledge by through research, documentation, publishing and public outreach. You can make a donation here.
6. Sign this petition
Amnesty International has created a petition to end the bloodshed currently taking place in Iran. This petition is a call for states to “set up an independent UN mechanism now to investigate and ensure accountability for the most serious crimes under international law in Iran.” You can sign the petition here.
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