A Blood Bath Took Place in Iran

Newark, Delaware (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) – A blood bath took place in major cities in Iran. The number of killed is still unknown. Even the government admits that it is in the thousands. Every soul that was gunned down was a member of a family. Even those from the security forces.

When the government forces began shooting protesters this year from January 8 forward, the families had to search for the bodies of their loved ones amongst the many covered coffins in the many morgues or hospitals. The videos are too horrific to watch. 

A friend of mine who is a journalist and has contact with Iran told me, “In Saadat Abad, a neighborhood in Tehran where my family lives, I talked to one of my friends who was lucky enough not to be gunned downed.  Members of Basij were everywhere and one could not believe the extent of killings.  Near our house, a blood bath was taking place.  I could not believe my eyes.  The smell of blood was everywhere.”

This kind of tale has been told by many witnesses.

Khavaran, where several thousand political prisoners were buried in unmarked graves. Painting by Fariba Amini.

This latest Iranian protest started in the bazaar, the traditional covered market. It was not about the hejab or veiling, unlike the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in autumn 2023. This round of strikes and demonstrations were more about the economy than politics, though some protesters did began shouting slogans about the end of the regime. The Iranian economy has been strangled with sanctions, corruption and mismanagement. Khomeini had said in one of his earlier speeches that economy is for the donkeys! 

 Well, not sure if that bodes well these days.

As a person who has always written about human rights, I could not even understand or even believe that my country men would take up arms against unarmed civilians. Whether it was provoked by the outsiders or not, the responsibility lays completely by those in power in Iran and for sure on the shoulders of Reza Pahlavi — who asked Iranians to go out on the streets without any planning or support and were gunned down while he lives his comfortable life in the U.S. 

It is reported that over a hundred people were killed by the Shah’s troops in Tehran’s Jaleh Square in September 1978 during the Iranian Revolution of that era. The Iranian Revolution, from all accounts, was not a bloody one, not like the French or the Russian revolutions, though the total number of those protesters killed 1978-79 is estimated to be some 2,000.

The Shah went on television and announced that he had heard the voices of the revolution. He did hear but he left Iran knowing that he was very sick and dying.  He could have left the throne to his son or the regent council headed by Farah Pahlavi.   He didn’t. 

Then the revolutionary zealots took power undermining the liberals, the leftists and the nationalists.   They took care of everyone!

Many protests have taken place since the revolution, beginning with the women’s protests, against the forced hejab or veiling. All the protests were met with utmost violence. 

I remember walking with my mother at a rug exhibition in Tehran. Three women came out from a van, telling my mother that I had a bad hejab. I was too young to respond. My mother apologized to them as they were intimidating. We went on disgruntled, but over time the women of Iran stood up to confront this oppressive measure imposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran.  Today, many women barely cover their hair.

2026 Iran protest. Public Domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Nowhere in the Qoran does it say that women must cover their hair.

As for the protests in Iran this winter, there is no question that outside elements were involved.   But the anger was there.  Anger over years of suppression and corruption. 

Though, oppression and corruption existed long before 1979.   Even torture and executions took place under the previous regime.

Whether Trump will attack as the navy ships are nearing the Persian Gulf or Reza Pahlavi will become the new leader, is all speculation.

But the only people who are suffering are the Iranians.

Khameini should let go of the throne.   The old, deposed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahalvi had the courage to do so and so should this elderly clerical leader, who, at 86, will die soon of old age anyway.