Why do atrocities in Iran seem to receive so little attention?

[MyCoralDreamer]

I was listening to Ian Dale LBC yesterday on the way back from a work meeting and this was one of the topics that was covered. I think he and various people who phoned in, raised some really interesting points.

Did anyone else listen to it? For example there was a public execution 2 days ago where 3 young men were to be hanged. One of them, only 18 years old, is reported to have died of a heart attack just before his execution was carried out. The regime were expecting cheers from the crowd. But instead, the crowd protested in disgust and the regime then chased and shot around 200 of the protesters.

Had I not listened to the this, I would have had no idea that this had happened. I think it’s important that these events are given more media coverage. We hear plenty about other events going on around the world and about Trumps latest peace deal with Iran (that never seems to materialise). But the media doesn’t seem interested in what the regime is inflicting on its civilians.

Dale also questioned why there’s no Free Iran Protests, when there’s plenty of Free Palestine Protests. Theres ONE that happens outside the Iranian embassy, but that’s it. Why aren’t more people bothered about atrocities in Iran?

During 8-9 of January this year, the regime killed an estimated 50,000 of its civilians. Again, had I not listened to LBC last night then I wouldn’t have know about this.

Its still available to listen back to if anyone’s interested. The podcast heading relates to reforms on social care but this topic came up in the last 3rd of the show.

It isn't and it shouldn't
But there's a difference between caring, and being able to do something about it. As terrible as that is. There are already many threads on Israel so I don't want to derail, but since you mentioned the different reactions, it's relevant to say that even the UK/American people protesting Israel aren't calling on the UK government or American government to bomb Tel Aviv. The demands are for things like sanctions, not letting them compete in Eurovision, not providing arms, condeming in the UN. (Or vague stuff that doesn't make sense and just boils down to "Israel bad"). Even Palestine Action, proscribed as a terrorist group who have carried out violent attacks, are focused on stopping the UK allowing people that make drones and sell them to Israel to operate within the UK. That isn't to justify rhe attack on Elbit systems BTW.

In Iran's case they aren't in Eurovision (and I doubt they want to be) the leaders of the regime are already proscribed and the country is already sanctioned. Maybe we could do more, prevent them from participating in sport for example (though that's controversial) but you are comparing apples with oranges in terms of protests about Iran and Israel regardless of what you think of those two countries and their leaders.

I am not saying the two countries or their leaders are morally equivalent btw. But if you want to compare reactions then there's the comparison.

You don't need a peer reviewed poll to figure out public opinion in a dictatorship. When a regime has to completely shut down the national internet, deploy roof snipers, and slaughter thousands of its own citizens in the streets just to maintain control. THAT is the public opinion poll. Dictatorships don't use live ammunition against their own public when the population is content.

And the idea that millions of brave Iranians taking to the streets facing point blank gunfire were just ‘encouraged by CIA disinformation’ or foreign meddling, rather than fighting for their own basic human dignity, is just so patronising to the people living through this.

You have spent this entire thread arguing that the hijacked revolution was ‘what people wanted’, that executed people aren't ‘innocent’ because the regime's laws say so, and now that the population might actually like living under a brutal theocracy.

It is incredible the lengths you will go to with academic semantics and conspiracy theories just to avoid the truth 🙄.

No Jews. No news.

I’m looking at my kids now, in our living room. They are happy and content

Good. Stop listening to current affairs programmes if you cannot process them.

Iran is a hell hole and there's nowt you or I can do about it. However, we can support our new PM in making life better in our country so your kids stay content when they're older.

Providing work and training opportunities for young people. Building council houses and affordable homes. Improving NHS and social care. Ending child poverty and homelessness. Controlling immigration so we have economic migrants who enhance our economy and their own prospects rather than islamists who want to change Britain for the worst.

There's so much you can do in your own community and country rather than mawkishly projecting your son into situations they weren't born into.

OP could you clarify exactly what you want the UK to do (besides what they are already doing) to pressure Iran? Am I right in thinking you want the UK to join Israel and America’s war against Iran? If so, how can you claim to care so much for the Iranian people and yet want more bombs dropped on them? Don’t you think enough people have died?

I’ve already said on this thread 🙄

If caring about teenagers being executed makes me ‘unable to process the news’, I’d rather keep my basic human empathy than your cold indifference.

Ok so you want us to bomb Iran and arm Iranian people with weapons? Did you think any of that through seriously? Who exactly is going to receive these weapons? And how do think that is going to pan out for them? And bombing “military targets” ermmmm… isn’t that what US and Israel have been doing? There is no regime change, and just a stalemate situation causing death, misery, and massive implications for the rest of the world. But you think if good old Blighty were to get involved it would all be solved and the Iranian people would live happily ever after. Talk about naive 🤦‍♀️

It's weird op isn't it . I do get what people are saying what can we do etc but thats the same anywhere.
What about yeman ,the women in afghanistan etc north Korea ,China and so on ..

I think a lot of these projects are driven by unions and their members are quite loud so i think that's why we don't hear as much about other stuff.

You’ve just latched on to ONE suggestion I made to twist the narrative and make out like I want wide-scale bombing of Iran, which isn’t what I said at all. There are plenty of other constructive ideas out there if you could actually be bothered to look.

Tilly, I’m as highly critical of Israel as anyone on here, but that comment is racist.

Quote from a previous reply you made to me "And also, to claim someone who is executed for protesting isn't "innocent" simply because an authoritarian dictatorship deemed them guilty under their own oppressive laws is extraordinary."

Why is it extraordinary ? Different counties have different laws. And you totally avoided the part where I said Saudi Arabia has also executed protestors, including a minor. Do you want the UK to start bombing Saudi Arabia ?

People in other nations might not agree with laws elsewhere, that does not mean the laws are not there. And yes, of course the UN rightly censures Iran for its lack of human rights. It is totally wrong what they do.

Quote "You don't need a peer reviewed poll to figure out public opinion in a dictatorship. When a regime has to completely shut down the national internet, deploy roof snipers, and slaughter thousands of its own citizens in the streets just to maintain control. THAT is the public opinion poll. Dictatorships don't use live ammunition against their own public when the population is content."

Bit of a logical disconnect there I think. Because if everyone, or near everyone want's change, who are firing the guns ? That is why I was talking about the difficulties of getting public opinion. What % of people are against the government, and what % against.

We saw this in Afghanistan. As soon as the US pulled out it became a theocracy. And Syria. Any sign of elections there ?

Or is Iran somehow different ? Give guns to some people, do a bit of bombing, and Bobs your uncle, we have a liberal democracy.

Hell, I am still waiting to hear when the democratic elections are going to happen in Venezualla.

Why don't you tell us about them? That poster didn't 'latch on to one narrative', she repeated your suggestion that the UK should arm Iranians and bomb Iran.

@MyCoralDreamer

There is something odd about this thread. Because in your OP at the top of the page you said, "During 8-9 of January this year, the regime killed an estimated 50,000 of its civilians. Again, had I not listened to LBC last night then I wouldn’t have know about this."

So you never knew about any of this till last night, and now you are expert level about the Iranian revolution, what public opinion is in Iran, how to solve it (guns and bombs).

You never knew anything about the Jan protests until last night. To borrow a term you used against me above, Really ?

You started the thread saying we had to do something, so it’s reasonable for posters to ask you exactly what it is that you want the UK to do 🤷‍♀️
And actually I picked up on two things (the only two I could find) that you suggested. I’m not sure why you think either of those would bring about regime change. This current war has been going on for months now, if the supposed world’s biggest military power can’t change the Iranian regime it’s reasonable for me to ask why you think we can?

I’ve already put several other suggestions on this thread. If you can’t be bothered to read the thread, that isn’t my problem 🤷‍♀️

You're just being a bleeding heart keyboard warrier.

What % are opressed. What % are fine getting on with whatever, and what % are doing the opressing ?

And after that, at what ratio of the above "should something be done"?

I mean doing something above what is being done just now. Once we get some percenteges of the 90 million, then we can discuss what you would like to do with the opressors.

I’ve trawled back through the thread, what “several other suggestions”? I can’t see them… 🤔
I mean you did suggest closing their embassy, but I’m sure you didn’t think that would result in a regime change in Iran…..

No you haven't. Perhaps you meant to post them and didn't but there definitely not multiple other suggestions made by you nevermind 'several'. So I will ask again what is it that you want? A protest where people screech 'Won't somebody do something'?

I do hear about it - not as much as it happens but it's in the news cycle every so often.

I hear less about Sudan war - which is pretty nasty. North Korean pretty brutal for minor infractions as well even with teens that only crops up occaionally. Afghanistan is woman rights nightmare and is in food crisis.

There's a lot going on internationally - and a lot fallen off the news cycle Ukraine worries about their war doing so.

The uprisings were happening in Iran but a forgein country bombing tends to unify state rather than strength reistance. Iran been under international sanctions for decades - invading is a nightmare so most think it's impossible or too risky - it's internationally condemded though that is mostly for sponsoring international terrorism.

Previous US presidents and western powers have realised most they could do is contain and maybe fuel unrest - it's not like Iran suddenly become like this it been well known for decades- Trumps stategery thrown that all to the winds.

They do not not care what international opnions is -thanks to US their leaderships been changed to a even more militant one. No-one liked pervious Iran government - but there are huge limits on what could be done before - and now a government even less likely to comprimise with anyone even their own people.