A. Rahman
Iranian authorities have moved aggressively to punish those connected to recent protests, extending beyond the streets with a broad campaign of retribution that rights advocates call one of the most sweeping in the country’s history.
The government has carried out mass arrests, with estimates from human rights organizations suggesting as many as 40,000 people have been detained. Many face serious accusations like rioting or terrorism, and some have appeared on television making confessions that activists believe were coerced.
Beyond detentions, officials have gone after businesses linked to supporters, confiscating property and forcing closures. Even medical professionals who provided care to wounded protesters have come under scrutiny, adding to the pressure on communities.
Iran: Authorities’ Renewed Cycle of Protest Bloodshed | Human …
Families mourning loved ones killed in the unrest have faced strict orders not to show public grief, such as crying at funerals. Independent voices in the media have also been muted to stifle any remaining dissent.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, who leads Iran Human Rights based in Oslo, described the approach as collective punishment designed to leave lasting trauma. He explained that the goal appears to be intimidating an entire generation to deter future challenges to the regime.
Iran: Growing Evidence of Countrywide Massacres | Human Rights Watch
Quick Summary:
Iran has suppressed recent protests through mass arrests of up to 40,000 people, asset seizures from businesses, targeting of treating doctors, media silencing, and restrictions on public mourning at funerals. Rights groups label it collective punishment to traumatize supporters and prevent future unrest.
