Siyavash Shahabi, writer and independent journalist, is a political refugee in Athens, Greece. He regularly writes about Iran, the Middle East, and the condition of refugees in Europe. He also writes critiques of religion.
The Islamic Republic has brought the country to a point of no return. For non-Iranians especially Westerners, it’s easy to constantly blame the United States and Israel. But for us, the situation is different. We have lived under authoritarian and repressive policies, while enormous amounts of public money were spent on programs that brought no benefit to the people of Iran. These decisions had no popular support and only led to crisis and widespread tension.
All the claims about the power and strength of the IRGC disappeared in just a few days, while they have brutally suppressed the Iranian people for the most basic political and social demands. For many non-Iranian observers, especially in the West, these details don’t matter. It's still easy for them to just condemn the U.S. and Israel, and they should be condemned. But that’s not the whole story.
Let me tell you: this is not only about Iran. Protest movements and the will of the people across the Middle East have once again been pushed aside in this wartime atmosphere. And it’s unclear what the future will look like. I don’t believe the Islamic regime wants to continue the war on a full military level, but what’s coming next will likely be a period of widespread repression.
A Western observer might spend hours lecturing us about the contradictions and hypocrisy of Western governments. They may talk about the silence around Israel’s nuclear program. They can say many things and often, they are not wrong.
But none of that changes the fact that in a country like Iran, where there is no transparency in politics or decision-making, where the people have no clear social or political agency in such critical matters, and where officials are never held accountable, these arguments lose their meaning.
You cannot justify the actions of an unaccountable regime by pointing to the failures of others. What matters is whether the people of Iran are part of the decisions that shape their lives, and the answer is clearly no.
Now the regime is appealing to the UN Security Council, demanding that it act according to international law. But this is the same Security Council where the United States permanently vetoes any resolution that does not serve its own interests, or those of its allies.
Moreover, the question must be asked: when has the Islamic Republic ever respected the demands or regulations of the United Nations? What moral ground does it stand on when it suddenly speaks of “international law” with such shamelessness?
All these dramatic statements, what are they supposed to achieve for the people of Iran? Will they stop the bombs? Will they bring food, jobs, or security? Or are they just more empty slogans, meant to distract from a reality where ordinary people pay the price, while those in power hide underground and make threats on their behalf?
The Islamic Republic is not a democratic political system. The people have no role in its key decisions. Power is concentrated in the hands of unelected figures who do not face accountability. This is not a system acting in the interests of its citizens. It is an ideological/military apparatus built around one man’s authority, with others competing to prove loyalty, even at the cost of national destruction.
The actions of Israel and the United States must be strongly condemned. There is no doubt about that. But ignoring the Islamic regime and standing beside it, cannot be seen as a defense of the Iranian people and their right to self-determination.
+ I must speak clearly to anti-war and anti-NATO movements: Strongly condemn the United States and Israel. But be careful with your language. Be mindful of the symbols you use in the protests. Do not hold the Islamic Republic’s flag. Do not carry pictures of Iran’s fascist rulers (especially Khamenei) or the Islamic SS officers (the IRGC). Do not use religious/Islamic symbols. You must not stand between the Islamic regime and the people of Iran. When it comes to Iran’s internal politics, stand with the progressive protest movements. Support the workers’ and women’s movements.
- This piece is a preserved version of a social media post originally authored by Siyavash Shahabi. It is republished here with his explicit permission, including the title, which he personally provided.
- Reference: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16d7GG8Ahr/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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