Even Leftists are rooting for the freedom protesters in Iran, and that is so anomalous that Iran’s state-run Press TV is trying a canny strategy: denouncing the protests as “Islamophobic” and focusing on alleged attacks on Islamic institutions. No innocent people should be victimized and I’m against all vandalism, including what is described in this article, if it really happened. But they hardly negate the importance of the protests or the monstrousness of the Iranian regime. In highlighting all this, Press TV is hoping to intimidate Leftists who recoil at any hint of “Islamophobia” into dropping their support for the demonstrators. It will likely work on some of the intended targets.
“Response to Mahsa Amini’s death: Peaceful protests or Islamophobic riots?,” by Omar Ahmed, Press TV, September 27, 2022:
…While there is certainly room for debate on many issues related to this incident, the loose coalition of disparate, mostly-secular ‘oppositionists’ – be it in Iran or elsewhere – has shown that this so-called “movement” has little to do with Amini’s death or even progressive politics….
Indeed, some anti-government rioters have revealed their very open disdain for the Islamic faith. In Iran, for example, these rioters were seen setting alight a banner dedicated to Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), especially around a sensitive time in the Islamic month of Safar, days after Arbaeen.
More Islamophobic actions were witnessed in the heart of London, where members of the anti-Iran MKO terrorist group and pro-monarchy hooligans attacked the annual, peaceful Arbaeen procession that saw the participation of women and children….
The clashes didn’t stop with the targeting of the Arbaeen procession – falsely branded as “regime supporters” online, but included rioters vandalizing one of the main Shia mosques in the UK – the Islamic Centre of England that has affiliations with the Islamic Republic.
One individual from the unruly mob was seen climbing up the mosque and waving the flag of the pre-revolutionary monarchists, while others pelted the place of worship with glass bottles and other objects before clashing with riot police.
As such, for security reasons the center had to cancel a religious gathering that was planned that evening, commemorating the demise of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
There were reports on social media that the secularists planned another attack on the Islamic center the following evening, however, after dozens of Shia Muslim men gathered outside to safeguard the mosque, the plan was called off and the gathering relocated to Trafalgar Square.
Admittedly, one interesting outcome of this has been the unified stance by London’s Shia community, be they the pro-Islamic Republic of Iran or not.
Nevertheless, the increasing and brazen trend of Islamophobic assaults carried out by the seemingly peaceful, pro-democracy activists is a concerning development and further illustrates that the mob care little about the tenets of the liberal values they claim to uphold.
Wellington says
When out of ideas (and an incapacity to argue rationally) resort to entirely bogus mantras like Islamophobia and racism.
Infidel says
I’ll give one to the Iranian regime here. The protests against the chador are very much protests against islam, and in that sense, they actually are ‘islamophobic’!
CogitoErgoSum says
How can the clerics give in? Allah says in the Koran that women should cover their private parts and their “adornments.” A woman’s hair is an adornment that should be covered. It seems clear to me that not doing so is in defiance of Allah. Allah has spoken and it’s not up for a vote by the people. Yes, to reject the hijab is to reject the will of Allah.
I wish the protesters good luck but they are not going to change minds with peaceful protests. The true believers will fight and most certainly will kill for their god. To them forcing a woman to wear the hijab and beating her to death for refusing to submit with humility is in accordance with Allah’s will. Full submission is Allah’s will but it is not right and it is not just and the human heart knows this. There are other ways to become a decent and moral person and Islam continues to prove over and over that it is not the way to get there. These protestors know something is wrong in their country; I just hope they know that it is Islam.
somehistory says
Let us all *celebrate the death of the mass-murdering raper of children.* “No peace for the wicked.” No peace for the evil. If he ever lived, he was long ago eaten and then deposited by worms.
Let us all sing happy songs and pass around cakes and ham sandwiches and pork rinds, and something to drink….something he would condemn…and sing more happy songs.
Would not the members of the bm and antifa movements call these “peaceful protests” as they toppled statues, threw Molotov cocktails, shot guns and beat people for no reason? These people under the evil tyrants in iran are rightly angry, and throwing off the evil, to the evil mozlums, is “phobic”…or a
lying pretense thereof. 😜 since there is no such thing.
gravenimage says
Iran’s state-run Press TV tries to appeal to Leftists by denouncing freedom protests as ‘Islamophobic riots’
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How dare anyone want to be free? Damned “Islamophobes”! sarc/off
Scotsman48 says
The entire family of The Shah live just south of San Francisco California, ready to fly to Iran at a moments notice.
I look forward to seeing that happen in my lifetime.
James Lincoln says
Someone needs to tell Iran’s state-run Press TV:
It’s not a phobia when the fear is rational.