Iran Labels Rock Music Fans Satan Worshippers in Mass Arrest

Saeed Shariati told Etemad Online website that "Even some of the hardliners can no longer call this political purge an election." He said "the government is playing with people's minds when it asks them to choose between two likeminded hardline conservatives."

Prior to the March 1 parliamentary elections, the Guardian Council controlled by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, disqualified hundreds of candidates, paving the way for loyalist hardliners to gain a strong majority in the Majles. This partly contributed to the lowest turnout in the history of the Islamic political system.

The website noted that while the government considers the election over, the controversy surrounding it will persist due to unresolved issues. One of the most critical issues is the nature of the Iranian government, which is supposed to be a "Republic."

The website argued that the Iranian political system will no longer even resemble a republic with the disqualification of all “reformists, moderates, and independent candidates.”

Etemad Online quoted Shariati, who stated that election turnout in Iran has been consistently declining, even among conservative voters. In other words, the election system has failed to convince even the regime's religious-minded hardline conservative supporters.

"While one of the most significant [initial] differences between the Islamic Republic and the previous regime was that political groups were able to win positions of power in a competitive situation, during the past 32 years, the arbitrary selection of all candidates by the Guardian Council has changed the reality and eliminated the element of competitiveness," Shariati said.

He quoted former Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, who said that the high turnout in the 1997 Iranian presidential election influenced the United States' decision not to attack Iran between 2001 and 2003, following the September 11 terror strikes. At the time, President George Bush called Iran part of an “axis of evil.”

Shariati added that biased and rigged elections since 2009 have rendered elections in Iran meaningless, as radical conservatives have taken over the government.

Meanwhile, Jomhouri Eslami newspaper wrote: " The government failed to take seriously the drop in turnout in the 2020 Majles election and continued the same biased vetting of candidates, barring reformists and moderates from running. As a result, the situation worsened in the 2024 parliamentary elections."

The conservative daily pointed out that “it is a catastrophe when someone who has entered the new parliament by winning only 5 percent of the vote in Tehran, now has a chance to become the Speaker of the Majles and lead the legislative power."

The daily added that a parliament elected by the minimum number of votes is neither desirable nor legitimate and cannot make key decisions.

Meanwhile, the government and ruling ultraconservatives are either in denial about the declining election turnouts or attempting to justify them.

Ultraconservative political activist Sadeq Koushki has done both. He blamed the state television for the low turnout, saying that the state TV, which has exclusive broadcasting rights in Iran failed to properly inform the nation about the elections.

Meanwhile, he stated that the low turnout in March was "natural" and accused critics of waging a psychological war by highlighting it. He added, "There is no reason for the government to be concerned about the situation."

The new parliament is set to open in less than two weeks, but complacent statements like the one made by Koushki are unlikely to convince the Iranian people that the parliament represents the majority of them.

Local reports confirm that the phenomena can be seen as far away as the city of Khash.

The increase in activity follows historical patterns, although the current level is notably higher than in previous years.

The residents of Khash have consequently suffered health issues from the natural phenomenon, including hospitalizations due to allergic reactions triggered by the unpleasant sulfur smells emanating from the volcano during periods of activity.

Alireza Shahnavazan, the governor of Taftan, discussed the seasonal trends of the volcano earlier this year, noting, "Almost every year, following snowfall and rain in the Taftan area, we witness steam escaping from the peak of the Taftan volcano."

Mount Taftan rises approximately 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level, making it the tallest mountain in southeastern Iran. The region around Taftan is geothermally active, characterized by numerous hot springs, indicative of ongoing subterranean activities.

The volcano forms part of a volcanic arc that includes Bazman in Iran and Koh-i-Sultan in Pakistan, originating from the subduction of the Arabian plate beneath Iran at the Makran trench.

Speaking on Sunday, Ramadan Sharif said “They [enemies] overlook tens of thousands of doctors who have been active from the time of the [Iraq] war through the peak of sanctions, the COVID era, and other sectors up to today.”

Earlier in the month, Iraj Fazel, president of the Iranian Society of Surgeons and former Minister of Health, issued a warning, saying Iran might soon need to import medical specialists and send patients abroad for treatment if the trend of doctor migration continues.

Fazel highlighted the economic crisis plaguing medical students and noted a troubling decline in medical degree applications.

The migration of healthcare professionals has reached alarming levels with Hossein Ali Shahriari, head of the parliament’s Health and Medical Commission, reporting that around 10,000 specialists have sought employment abroad over the past two years, predominantly in Arab countries. The situation prompted calls for an official ban on doctor migration last December.

The crisis is compounded by the economic hardships faced by healthcare workers, many of whom earn a meager $200 to $300 a month in long hours and poor conditions, significantly impacting their mental health. The Iranian Psychiatric Association has reported an increase in suicide rates among medical residents, with 16 known suicides occurring in the past year alone. 

According to representatives from the mission, the discussions are part of a series that "neither are the first nor will they be the last."

Biden administration officials including the President’s top Middle East adviser, Brett McGurk and the acting US envoy for Iran, Abram Paley, are part of the discussions tackling core issues with the country the US last year branded the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.

Since the Iran-backed Hamas attack on Israel last October, proxies supported by Iran have carried out over 200 attacks against US forces, blaming the US for supporting Israel’s right to defend itself following the invasion which killed 1,200 in a single day.

The talks in Oman also touched on Iran's nuclear ambitions, with recent threats from Tehran to potentially pursue atomic weapons adding urgency to the discussions. The UN’s nuclear chief recently said Iran was weeks rather than months from a nuclear weapon. 

Similar discussions took place in January between the same parties. During that period, tensions were escalating between Israel and Iran, with Tehran-supported Yemeni Houthi forces launching attacks on international commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

Just like other students on US campuses, these students displayed flags of Hamas and Hezbollah and labeled these entities as "resistance groups." This troubling endorsement starkly clashes with the profound grievances of those who have experienced the true nature of such groups first-hand.

The Iranian protest at Princeton was not just a demonstration against Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a former Iranian ambassador to Germany and a figure deeply intertwined with Tehran’s oppressive apparatus. It was a plea for recognition of the agonies inflicted by the Islamic Republic, which has left deep scars on the Iranian people through relentless suppression of dissent and promotion of terrorism.

Mousavian’s tenure in the 1990s coincided with some of the darkest days of repression and external terrorist activities orchestrated by Tehran, including the systematic assassinations of 24 Iranian intellectuals and activists across Europe. His current academic position at Princeton starkly contrasts with his past, serving as a painful reminder to the victims' families of the injustice that continues to elude the international community’s full recognition and response.

Simultaneously, a group of US students conducted a "solidarity sit-in," with Hamas mirroring similar demonstrations across numerous college campuses. This perspective reveals a concerning disconnect from the historical and ongoing realities these organizations represent.

Historical Context and the Impact of Designating Terrorists as 'Resistance'

Hamas and Hezbollah are officially designated as terrorist organizations by the United States and several other countries. This designation is based on a history of violent actions that include suicide bombings, rocket attacks, and other forms of terrorism aimed at civilian populations. Their activities have contributed to the destabilization of regions and inflicted severe suffering upon countless innocents.

Moreover, Hezbollah’s involvement in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, which killed hundreds of US and French military personnel, is a grim exemplar of the group’s long-standing hostility towards Western nations and their regional allies. This act of terrorism, along with numerous others, underscores the inherent danger in romanticizing groups that actively undermine peace and security.

The Plight of Women and LGBTQ+ Under Islamist Regimes

The endorsement of Islamist groups by some Western students overlooks the severe implications these regimes have for human rights, particularly concerning women and the LGBTQ+ community. Wherever these Islamist groups have gained power, the result has been chaos, the erosion of civil liberties, and the imposition of draconian laws that strip away the rights and freedoms of women and LGBTQ+ individuals. The Iranian "Woman Life Freedom Movement" exemplifies the courageous struggle of Iranian women against a brutal regime that systematically oppresses them. This movement highlights the stark contrast between the aspirations of these brave women and the harsh realities imposed by theocratic governance. Furthermore, in groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, there is a conspicuous absence of women or LGBTQ individuals in any positions of leadership, reflecting a broader ideology that views women as lesser beings and severely restricts the rights and freedoms of the LGBTQ+ community. This fundamental disrespect for equality and human dignity underlines the dangers of supporting such groups under the guise of political resistance.

Complicity in Academia: The Role of Educators in Shaping Perceptions

Compounding the issue is the stance of some academics within Western universities, whose endorsement or passive acceptance of extremist ideologies under the guise of intellectual debate contributes significantly to the normalization of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Professors and educators entrusted with shaping young minds play a pivotal role in either challenging or perpetuating dangerous misconceptions about what constitutes legitimate resistance versus terrorism.

In several academic circles, a troubling trend exists where the lines between critical discussion and outright support for militant actions blur. By framing these groups as legitimate resistance movements and focusing predominantly on their opposition to Western policies without equally scrutinizing their methods of violence and governance, these educators foster a one-sided narrative that ignores the broader, often devastating implications of these groups’ actions on civilians.

This academic endorsement can give unwarranted legitimacy to extremist views, making it crucial for educational institutions to maintain a balanced perspective that rigorously examines all aspects of such groups. Universities must encourage critical thinking and promote a comprehensive understanding of geopolitical issues, one that respects human rights and rejects any form of violence targeting innocents under the guise of political struggle.

Educational leaders and faculty members are responsible for guiding their students toward informed, ethical viewpoints on international politics, emphasizing the importance of peace, security, and respect for all human lives. By doing so, they can help prevent the spread of misinformation and the glorification of violence, ensuring that the next generation of leaders and thinkers advocates for genuine justice and peace, not masked by the banners of terror.

As the world continues to grapple with the complexities of international relations, terrorism, and the struggle for human rights, the need for clear-eyed scrutiny of all entities that purport to fight for justice but employ terror and suppression cannot be overstated. The future of global security and the preservation of fundamental human rights depend on our ability to discern true resistance from oppressive terror.

Opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily the views of Iran International.