A Situation is Developing in Iran

by Jack

The world may have stopped for some people, obsessed with deposing Trump by any means, but in other places around the world real crisis’ still loom large.  People are dying for the freedom that too many of us take for granted.

My friend, who lives inside Iran, we’ll just call him Bahar, sent me a message through a  back channels on the internet.  In his message, he announced the regular internet and phone communications had been shut down for the last 8 days by order of the Iranian government.

The news about what is happening inside Iran is very limited. However, you should know that in Tehran many young people took to the street in protest of the government.  They are angry over the government’s heavy hand and the lack of respect for basic human rights.  Bahar believes that about 400 people have died in clashes with armed troops and police during the last week.

He described the situation in Tehran and other cities as very tense.   He could not understand how his government could just kill their own people?  He was extremely distraught and stunned by the bloody violence that he has observed.

I won’t quote him for security reasons, but what he sent me was written in a way that makes me think he and many others like him are under extreme stress and danger.   For the present time he is safe, but just like in Hong Kong, you never know what tomorrow may bring.   This situation is far more risky that what we saw Cairo, Egypt.  Iran is a closed country and the media is tightly controlled.

I’ve known Bahar for well over 3 years and we have a mutal friend that I’ve known even longer.   The sum of the information I have received, which is not much, tells me things in Iran are close to widespread violence.   If it blows I would expect the current regime to use extreme violence to put it down.   However, if the situation doesn’t happen soon, eventually it will, that much is inevitable.

The younger generation is demanding freedom and they are willing to risk their lives for it.   Those under 30 know about the outside world and they want to be part of it.  They want to be free to enjoy their lives.  And therein is the friction; their theocracy does not tolerate moderation and they are willing to kill to maintain discipline.