Iran, Where Humanity and Freedom Burn Together

By: Salil Gewali

Iran is in flames. Iran is mourning! The cruelty of its leaders knows no bounds. It’s like they’re waging war against their own citizens. To carry out their brutality, they have shut out the eyes of the press, allowing mass shootings to take place in the dark. In just a span of a few days, it’s been estimated that over twelve thousand people have been killed. Some claim that the death toll from the massacre could be well above thirty thousand. What lies ahead for the hapless citizens remains completely uncertain. Those most targeted are women’s groups who believe in freedom of expression and stand against heartless oppression. Worse still, countless journalists have been killed, many threatened with death or subjected to horrific torture. Many artists, athletes, and other public figures have also been arrested or endured cruel brutality at the hands of the armed forces.

I was deeply shaken when I came across a social media post about a woman breaking down in tears, recounting how noted footballer Mojtaba Tarshiz and his wife were reportedly shot dead by security forces. Just imagine the heartbreaking situation of their two young daughters left behind. A brave doctor, Aida Rostami, who risked her life treating the wounded, was reportedly tortured and killed in an unimaginably cruel way just a few days ago. These are just the tip of the iceberg.

Yes, countless clips are now circulating on social media. They also expose a glaring double standard. The world roared in outrage over the Palestinians and Hamas, and rightly so. Yet when it comes to the unprecedented massacre in Iran, the voices fade to a whisper! This silence is not only undesirable but also a betrayal of humanity itself. It is deeply disturbing. And here’s a serious concern — why has the UN remained so passive? Why has it failed to take decisive action against Iran or stop the mass executions immediately? It has already been the third week since this uprising and the barbaric killings began. To understand the roots of this mass uprising, one must dive into history.

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai fiercely condemned the barbaric killings in Iran, posting on X, “The protests in Iran cannot be separated from the decades of suffocating, state-imposed restrictions on girls’ and women’s autonomy in every sphere of public life, including education. Iranian girls, like girls everywhere, demand a life with dignity and freedom.”

Further, renowned journalist and fearless Human Rights activist from Yemen, Nobel Laureate Tawakkol Abdel-Salam Khalid Karman, also voiced her outrage with piercing words, calling it “a crime against humanity and a chilling reminder of the relentless oppression women endure under authoritarian regimes.”

Another million-dollar question is --- if the main leaders, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Masoud Pezeshkian, claim to be religious men, why do they order such a brutal crackdown on their own people? Do true God-loving individuals not believe in forgiveness, peace, compassion, and the values of humanity? One wonders why the more religious are most intolerant, uncompassionate and brutal. Can anyone sincerely provide a logical answer? Now we, nay, this whole civilisation, need an answer to the above question that resonates with humanity and that resonates with the all-merciful Almighty.

About Author: A writer and researcher based in Shillong (India), Salil Gewali is best known for his research-based work, ‘Great Minds on India’, which has earned worldwide appreciation. His book has been translated into fifteen languages and edited by a former NASA scientist, Dr. AV Murali of Houston, USA. Gewali is also a member of the International Human Rights Commission Zürich, Switzerland.