Some protesters really feel that the regime can also be utilizing executions as a means to shore up its personal supporters, and scale back the danger of dissent in its ranks by displaying it should deal severely with alleged crimes towards members of the safety forces and pro-government militia.
“It’s like they want to tell their security agents that, ‘See, we are not letting people get away with harming you in any way,’” Saeed stated.
“Some members of the Basij and security forces have died and the regime thinks that it is their duty to take revenge,” stated Tehran resident Yan, an aspiring filmmaker additionally in his 30s, who was additionally concerned in the demonstrations. “Blood for blood, an eye for an eye, this is the mentality of the regime,” he added. “This means that for each and every one of their security forces who dies, they will be hanging a protester by the neck in retaliation.”
The executions have been met with a spread of feelings amongst Iranians at residence and overseas. “My sense is one of shock, resignation and enhanced determination,” Ansari stated.
Saeed says he was so despondent when he heard concerning the first execution final week that he was mendacity in mattress all morning unable to transfer. “I woke up in the morning and saw the news,” he stated. “I sat still and silent in my bed for two hours and turned off my phone and went to sleep again from sheer sadness.”
That feeling quickly turned to rage, he stated, coupled with a renewed fearlessness concerning the prospect of being jailed by the regime, now that some had misplaced their lives.
“I must admit that I was afraid of being jailed before these executions, but now, I am thinking that I could tolerate it,” he stated. “There is no gray area left anymore” between the protesters and authorities, he added. “Either you are with the people on the side of justice or against them on the side of cruelty.”
Many persons are terrified by the executions, however Saeed famous that with concern comes unpredictability, which he says is a possible hazard for the regime. “Angry and scared is much more dangerous than just angry, and that is how people feel,” he added. “When you are scared and angry, you do things that are unexpected.”
The unrest broke out in mid-September when a Kurdish lady, Mahsa Amini, 22, died in a hospital three days after being arrested by the nation’s morality police for allegedly breaking the nation’s strict gown code. A 3-day, nationwide strike earlier this month noticed each day life throughout this nation of 85 million grind to a halt, and there was a push on social media for an additional strike this week.
In all, at the least 475 folks have been killed and 18,000 others arrested, in accordance to the Washington area-based watchdog group Human Rights Activists in Iran. Iran’s Interior Ministry stated earlier this month the loss of life toll was 200, together with safety forces who had been killed.
“The Iranian authorities are adamant on continuing their killing spree, both on the streets and through sham trials,” Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, stated in a press release after Shekari’s execution. “The clear aim is to instill fear among the public in a desperate attempt to cling to power and end the popular uprising.”
Amnesty has tallied 12 folks it says are dealing with the loss of life penalty associated to the protests, and one other 5 who’re dealing with trial or have been charged with crimes carrying the loss of life penalty. Rahnavard was the sixth.
But even when the judicial killings proceed, lots of these concerned in the rebellion say they may stay undeterred.
“Revolutions have consequences, and we need to pay the price for freedom,” Yan stated. “Unfortunately, that sometimes means losing lives.”
The Associated Press contributed.