Exiled Iran opposition figures predict 2023 ‘victory for nation’ after protests

Issued on: 02/01/2023 – 16:29Modified: 02/01/2023 – 16:31

These sending the message embody leaders from the fields of tradition, human rights and sports activities.

The Iranian diaspora has lengthy been seen as missing unity, break up into totally different political factions and techniques for coping with the Islamic republic, that ousted the shah in 1979.

However with protests nonetheless persevering with in Iran over 100 days after they have been sparked by the loss of life of younger Iranian Kurdish lady Mahsa Amini, the message seems an try and discover a long-sought unity.

“The yr 2022 was a wonderful yr of solidarity for Iranians of each perception, language and orientation,” it mentioned.

“With organisation and solidarity, 2023 would be the yr of victory for the Iranian nation. The yr of freedom and justice in Iran.”

The message was despatched concurrently on social media by quite a lot of figures, starting from the influential US-based dissident Masih Alinejad to the son of the ousted shah, Reza Pahlavi, who additionally lives in the US.

‘Hopeful signal’

Outstanding actors Golshifteh Farahani and Nazanin Boniadi additionally tweeted the message, as did Zar Amir Ebrahimi, who gained one of the best actress award on the Cannes Movie Pageant in France final yr.

“We’re united to achieve freedom,” Farahani wrote on her Instagram account. “We are going to stand collectively and won’t be silent”.

Outstanding rights activists to put up the message included Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, and Hamed Esmaeilion, who has led the Canada-based marketing campaign for justice for the victims of the Ukraine Airways flight shot down by Iran in January 2020.

From the sphere of sports activities, they have been joined by former Iranian worldwide soccer star Ali Karimi, who has been a vociferous supporter of the protest motion.

The protest motion sparked by the loss of life of Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly breaching the Islamic republic’s strict costume code, is presenting the clerical management with its largest problem because the 1979 revolution.

The crackdown has seen 476 individuals killed, based on Norway-based rights group Iran Human Rights.

Two individuals have already been executed over the protests, whereas IHR says no less than 100 detainees are liable to execution.

The United Nations says no less than 14,000 individuals have been arrested, with a number of well-known figures such because the actor Taraneh Alidoosti nonetheless in detention.

Roham Alvandi, a historical past professor on the London College of Economics, mentioned the message was a “hopeful check in darkish instances”.

With the authorities exhibiting little signal of providing concessions to protesters, the Fars information company reported that Iranian police have been launching a brand new drive to step up enforcement of the compulsory hijab.

(AFP)