The protests in Iran are now stronger than ever, says Amnesty International’s Iran expert Dieter Karg. Because this time it’s not about improving the system, it’s about abolishing it.
The economic misery, corruption, water shortages, high petrol prices – there have been repeated protests against the government in Iran in recent years. When the Iranians demonstrated against the allegedly rigged election of ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009, they even lasted six months. But this time the movement is even bigger, says Iran expert Dieter Karg in the 411th episode “important today”. The protest has spread to all areas, has found a much broader base among the population – “and it is fundamentally against the entire system of the Islamic Republic.”
A protest without a leader: can the population withstand the repression?
What the protest lacks is a leader. The Iran expert has mixed feelings: “Leadership figures can always develop into dictators,” says Dieter Karg. On the other hand, the regime is currently trying to eliminate all those who could take over a new leadership. “People who would be suitable are in prison for the most part.” The current movement in Iran is, in his opinion, a completely impartial movement. And those who openly rebel are chased through the streets, beaten, kicked or even executed. “It’s hard to say whether the population will withstand it, but the determination seems to be very high,” says Dieter Karg.
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Human rights organizations in Iran: “Everything has to be done in secret”
Amnesty International has contacts with eyewitnesses, family members, lawyers and other human rights organizations, but NGOs are hardly active in Iran, says Dieter Karg: “We are not allowed to enter Iran. Everything has to be done in secret.” On Thursday, the UN Human Rights Council dedicated a special session to Iran for the first time in its history. Amnesty International is hoping for an international commission of inquiry. According to Dieter Karg, 40 of 47 members of the Human Rights Council want to support this motion: “Whether that impresses the Iranian government is another question.” Because so far the regime would not have been impressed by sanctions. “Until now, people have preferred to sacrifice their own people than to give up power.” So far, there is no sign of giving in, so there are no signs that anything is going to change.
And even if the Iranian government remains adamant, Dieter Karg still sees room for improvement when it comes to further economic restrictions and sanctions for Iran. Germany is still one of Iran’s most important trading partners, although economic relations have already been scaled back. “The world is showing solidarity, but politics is still a bit too cautious.”
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Source: Stern
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