Iran’s Exiled Prince Calls For Protests In Memory Of Mahsa Amini

Iran's exiled prince has urged Iranians across the nation and around the world to hold protests in commemoration of the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's tragic killing.

Speaking during a meeting with reporters in Los Angeles, Prince Reza Pahlavi a prominent opposition leader, emphasized that the focus of these protests should extend beyond Tehran, encompassing all regions of Iran.

Pahlavi asserted that should protests proliferate across different regions of Iran, the Islamic Republic could find itself obligated to distribute its repressive forces to various areas. He argued that this dispersal would potentially enhance the effectiveness of countermeasures against governmental forces.

Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman was arrested in the street by Iran’s morality or hijab police in mid-September and hours later was transferred to hospital with fatal head injuries, where she died three days later. The news immediately sparked nationwide protests, which lasted for five months and posed the most serious challenge to the Islamic Republic in its 44-year history.

Prince Pahlavi outlined the significance of Mahsa Amini's anniversary, highlighting it as an exceptional opportunity to strengthen the resolve of the people and sustain the momentum of protests and strikes against the Islamic Republic. He also emphasized that this movement's progress would experience both ebbs and flows, underscoring the difference between a campaign and a cause.

Describing the combination of protests and strikes as a potent strategy in confronting the Islamic Republic, he noted: "In my view, more than calling [the movement] a campaign, I think it's really a cause."

Prince Reza Pahlavi pointed out the considerable number of Iranians living abroad, stating, "We have more than eight million Iranians living abroad; if you take 10% of those to be active participants in the movement, it will change the entire dynamic."

He called on democratic countries worldwide to support Iranians in their journey towards democracy, noting the shared values of human rights, freedom, and an end to discrimination, which stand in stark contrast to the Iranian regime's stance.

Concurrently, 27 international groups and organizations have united in a call for a global gathering on September 16, coinciding with the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini's tragic death. These groups are urging global unity on this significant occasion, setting the stage for demonstrations in various cities and countries worldwide.

However, amidst the buildup to the anniversary, The Wall Street Journal has highlighted the Iranian government's intensified efforts to suppress protesters and activists. This crackdown reflects the government's deep-seated concerns that the intensity of the protest movement remains undiminished.

Mahmoud Amiri-Moghaddam, the director of Iran Human Rights, disclosed that the government is targeting individuals who may have been leaders or participants in past protests during this anniversary period.

According to the latest report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, released on August 8, over 20,000 individuals have been arrested by agents of the Islamic Republic since the inception of the revolutionary uprising. These arrests pertain to participation in or support for the protests. Many of those detained have been granted temporary release on bail, while their cases remain pending within security organizations. Hundreds have also been re-arrested.

As global attention remains on Iran's human rights situation, Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has recently called for immediate action by the Iranian government. He has emphasized the need to halt executions, release political prisoners of conscience, human rights activists, lawyers, and journalists in the country.