How Iran's repression machine works

Summary

The video script recounts the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, sparking widespread protests against Iran's oppressive regime. It delves into the country's transition from a secular monarchy to an Islamic Republic, the creation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the Basij militia's brutal suppression of dissent. The narrative highlights Iran's power structure, the regime's control over independent institutions, and the escalating unrest as the younger generation, born post-revolution, demands change, with no hope for internal reform.

Takeaways

• 👥 Mahsa Amini's death sparked widespread protests in Iran after she was detained by the 'Morality Police' for improper hijab wearing and subsequently died in custody.
• 🚨 Iran's response to the protests was to shut down the country's Internet, highlighting the government's attempts to control information flow.
• 💇‍♀️ The act of women cutting their hair in protest became a powerful symbol against the regime's imposed dress code and the hijab.
• 👮‍♂️ The 'Morality Police' is part of Iran's repressive state apparatus, targeting women primarily for dress code enforcement.
• 🛡️ The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was created as a trusted military branch separate from the traditional army, playing a significant role in Iran's power structure.
• 🏹 The Basij, a paramilitary militia under the IRGC, is known for its loyalty to the supreme leader and its role in suppressing protests.
• 📜 Amnesty International documents revealed orders for security forces to 'severely confront' protesters, leading to numerous arrests and deaths.
• 🏛 Iran's legislative branch is not truly independent, as it is controlled by the regime's appointed Guardian Council, overriding democratic processes.
• 🗣️ The protests in Iran have been growing in intensity and frequency over the past 20 years, reflecting a society's frustration with corruption and repression.
• 🌐 Despite censorship, young Iranians have managed to draw global attention to their cause, using social media and public acts of defiance.
• 🔄 The current protests differ from past movements in their immediate calls for regime change, indicating a loss of faith in the possibility of reform from within.

Q & A

What event triggered the recent protests in Iran?

The recent protests in Iran were triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who was detained by the 'Morality Police' for improperly wearing her hijab and later died in a hospital.

What is the role of Iran's 'Morality Police'?

The 'Morality Police' in Iran is responsible for enforcing the regime's strict dress code, primarily targeting women and their hijab wearing. They have the authority to fine or arrest individuals and take them to detention centers.

How did the Iranian government respond to the protests?

In response to the protests, the Iranian government shut down the country's Internet to suppress the spread of information and images of the protests.

What symbol of protest has emerged from the recent demonstrations?

A symbol of protest that has emerged is women defiantly cutting their hair, which is a symbol of beauty that the regime wants to be hidden under the hijab.

What was Iran's political structure like in the 1970s before the Islamic Revolution?

In the 1970s, Iran was a secular monarchy under the Shah, operating as a dictatorship where Iranians lacked political freedoms but enjoyed social ones and experienced rapid economic growth.

What was the turning point that led to the collapse of the monarchy in Iran?

The turning point that led to the collapse of the monarchy in Iran was the Army's declaration of neutrality, which allowed the Islamic Revolution to take place.

What is the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and why was it created?

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is a separate military group created by the Islamic Republic of Iran under the Supreme Leader's rule. It was created as a branch of the armed forces that the revolutionaries could trust more than the army, which they did not trust due to its loyalty to the Shah.

What role does the Basij play in Iran's power structure?

The Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia under the IRGC, fiercely loyal to the supreme leader, primarily created for social control and domestic security. They have been involved in violently suppressing protests.

What has been the impact of the protests on human rights in Iran?

Human rights groups report that at least 18,000 protesters have been arrested and at least 250 have been killed, including more than 60 children, as a result of the Iranian authorities' severe response to the protests.

How has Iran's power structure contributed to the current protests?

Iran's power structure, with its multiple power centers and parallel institutions, was built to suppress dissent and protect power at the top. This structure has created a sense of despondency within the society, leading to an increasing rate of protests in the last 20 years.

What is the significance of the slogan 'Woman, life, freedom' in the context of the protests?

The slogan 'Woman, life, freedom' signifies the protesters' demand for gender equality, a better quality of life, and freedom from the oppressive regime. It has become a rallying cry for the demonstrations.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Iran's Morality Police and the Outcry Over Mahsa Amini's Death

The script begins with the tragic incident involving Mahsa Amini, who was detained by Iran's 'Morality Police' for not wearing her hijab properly. She was allegedly beaten in a van and later died in a hospital, sparking widespread protests. The Iranian government responded by shutting down the internet, but social media posts, including videos of women cutting their hair as a sign of defiance, continued to surface. The script discusses the role of the Morality Police, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the Basij militia in enforcing the regime's strict dress code and suppressing dissent. It also provides historical context, explaining how the current regime came to power after the 1979 revolution and the establishment of the IRGC to counterbalance the distrusted army. The summary highlights the regime's use of force against protesters, documented by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, which has led to thousands of arrests and hundreds of deaths, including children.

05:04

🔥 The Unrelenting Protests and the Call for Regime Change in Iran

This paragraph delves into the evolution of protests in Iran, noting that they have rapidly escalated from specific demands to calls for regime change. The script describes the multilayered and decentralized nature of Iran's power structure, designed to suppress dissent and protect the ruling elite. It emphasizes the futility of internal reform due to the regime's control over all branches of government, including the Guardian Council's power to disqualify candidates and veto laws. The summary also touches on the growing despondency within Iranian society, the increasing frequency of protests over the past two decades, and the current wave of demonstrations that have been particularly influenced by the younger generation. The script highlights the bravery of young Iranians, including schoolgirls, who are actively resisting the regime despite the risks, and it concludes by reflecting on the Islamic Republic's failure to provide a hopeful future for its youth.

Keywords

💡Morality Police

The 'Morality Police' in Iran is a law enforcement unit tasked with enforcing the country's strict dress code, particularly focusing on women's adherence to wearing the hijab. In the video's narrative, the Morality Police's actions lead to the tragic incident involving Mahsa Amini, which sparks widespread protests against the regime's oppressive policies.

💡Hijab

The 'Hijab' is a traditional Islamic head covering worn by many Muslim women as a symbol of modesty and religious observance. In the context of the video, the hijab is a point of contention, as the Iranian regime enforces its wearing through the Morality Police, and its defiance by protesters symbolizes resistance against the regime's control over personal freedoms.

💡Coma

The term 'coma' refers to a state of unconsciousness where a person cannot be awakened, respond, or exhibit voluntary actions. In the video, Mahsa Amini falls into a coma after being beaten and taken to a detention center by the Morality Police, which is a critical event leading to her death and subsequent protests.

💡Protests

The 'protests' mentioned in the video are mass public demonstrations expressing disapproval or objection to the government's actions, particularly in response to Mahsa Amini's death. They represent a collective outcry against the Iranian regime's oppressive policies and are a central theme of the video.

💡Internet Shutdown

An 'Internet Shutdown' is a government-imposed block on access to the internet, often used to suppress information flow or quell dissent. In the video, Iran's government shuts down the internet in an attempt to control the narrative and limit the spread of information about the protests, highlighting the regime's efforts to control information.

💡Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

The 'Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)' is a branch of Iran's armed forces created after the 1979 revolution, known for its loyalty to the Supreme Leader and involvement in both military and domestic security roles. The IRGC, including its Basij militia, is depicted in the video as a repressive force used to suppress protests and maintain the regime's power.

💡Basij

The 'Basij' is a paramilitary volunteer militia under the IRGC, characterized by their black attire and loyalty to the Supreme Leader. They are shown in the video as being involved in the violent suppression of protests, illustrating the regime's use of force against its own citizens.

💡Human Rights Watch

Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights worldwide. In the video, the organization verifies videos of armed forces abusing protesters, providing evidence of the regime's human rights violations.

💡Amnesty International

Amnesty International is another global human rights organization focused on documenting and advocating against human rights abuses. The video references documents obtained by Amnesty International that reveal orders for security forces to harshly confront protesters, further exposing the regime's violent tactics.

💡Guardian Council

The 'Guardian Council' in Iran is an unelected body that vets candidates for elections and reviews legislation passed by the parliament, effectively controlling the political process. In the video, the Guardian Council is highlighted as part of the regime's structure to suppress democratic processes and maintain power.

💡Revolution

The term 'revolution' refers to a significant change in political order and institutions, often brought about by the forcible overthrow of a government. The video discusses the Iranian Revolution of the 1970s, which led to the establishment of the current Islamic Republic and the power structures that protesters are fighting against.

Highlights

Mahsa Amini was detained by Iran's 'Morality Police' for improperly wearing her hijab and died in custody, sparking protests.

Iran shut down the country's Internet in response to the protests over Amini's death.

Hundreds of social media posts have surfaced showing defiance against the regime's dress code, including women cutting their hair.

The 'Morality Police' enforce the regime's strict dress code, primarily targeting women and fining or arresting them.

Different armed groups, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij militia, violently suppress protests.

The IRGC was created as a separate military group loyal to the Supreme Leader during the Islamic Revolution in the 1970s.

The Basij is a paramilitary volunteer militia under the IRGC, known for social control and violently suppressing protests.

Human Rights Watch verified videos show armed forces beating protesters and using assault weapons against them.

Amnesty International documents reveal orders for security forces to 'severely confront' and 'mercilessly' attack protesters.

At least 18,000 protesters have been arrested and at least 250 killed, including over 60 children, according to human rights groups.

Iran has started carrying out executions in response to the protests.

Iran's power structure lacks independent institutions, with the Guardian Council controlling the legislative branch.

The regime's control over government bodies overrides the will of the people, leading to a sense of despondency in society.

Iranians have increasingly protested against electoral fraud, corruption, and economic hardship over the last 20 years.

The current protests quickly escalated to calls for regime change, unlike previous protests with narrower objectives.

The Islamic Republic's power structure is designed to suppress dissent and protect power at the top through multiple parallel institutions.

The younger generation of Iranians, born after the revolution, feel they have nothing to lose and are leading the protests.

Despite censorship, young Iranians have used social media to draw global attention to their cause.

The Islamic Republic has failed to provide a future for the youth, leading to widespread disillusionment and protests.

Transcripts

On September 13th, a woman named Mahsa Amini

was detained by Iran's "Morality Police"

for improperly wearing her hijab.

She was loaded into a van where she was reportedly beaten

and then transferred to a detention center

where she collapsed and fell into a coma.

Three days later, she died at the hospital

and protests broke out.

As a result, Iran shut down the country's Internet.

But hundreds of social media posts

of people protesting her death have surfaced

over the last three months,

including videos of women defiantly cutting their hair,

the symbol of beauty the regime wants hidden under the hijab.

The so-called Morality Police patrol

the streets to enforce the regime's strict dress code.

They mostly target women and how they wear the hijab,

and will either fine them or

arrest them and take them to detention centers.

They are one part of the repressive state apparatus

that wields power over Iranians, but far from the only one.

In videos of the protests, we can see different armed groups

violently suppressing the protests.

Understanding who they might be tells us a lot

about the power structure Iranians are fighting to change.

In the 1970s,

Iran was a secular monarchy

that operated as a dictatorship. Under the Shah,

Iranians lacked political freedoms but enjoyed social ones.

They also experienced

economic growth that rapidly transformed Iran

from a traditional conservative

society to an industrial, modernized one.

Soon, economic frustrations and political repression

sparked uprisings calling for new Islamic rule.

They went on for a year, but the regime remained in place

until a crucial turning point: The Army declared neutrality.

It was then that the monarchy collapsed and gave way

to the Islamic Republic that rules today.

But that neutrality that allowed the regime to come to power

was also one of its biggest weaknesses.

The revolutionaries did not trust the army,

which was supposed to be loyal to the Shah,

but stabbed him in the back.

The best strategy was to hedge their bets

by creating a branch of the armed forces

that they could trust much more than the army.

Under the Supreme Leader's rule, the regime kept the old army

but created a separate military group called

the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

This group was crucial in the long war

Iran fought against Iraq.

The Revolutionary Guard played an important role

in trying to push back the Iraqi army,

and after that, they managed to turn that political capital

into economic influence and political power.

As their importance grew, so did their domestic security role,

which sometimes meant fighting against the people.

Videos verified by Human Rights Watch

show armed forces beating protesters

using assault weapons and men dressed in black

riding motorcycles and firing guns into crowds.

These men, dressed in black, fit the description of the Basij,

a paramilitary volunteer militia under the IRGC

that's fiercely loyal to the supreme leader.

Primarily, it was a force that was created

in order to do social control.

In September, Amnesty International obtained documents

showing the armed forces instructed their chain of command

to "severely confront" protesters,

and a local commander

ordering security forces to "confront mercilessly"

while going as far as causing deaths.

As a result, human rights groups say at least

18,000 protesters have been arrested

and at least 250 have been killed,

including more than 60 children.

And now Iran has started carrying out executions.

The reason so many

protesters are out on the streets

is that Iran's power structure

doesn't give them any alternatives.

Just like the armed forces are a pillar

of the Islamic Republic,

there are several others

supporting the country's power structure.

These are just a few of them.

And while some should be independent, they aren't.

This includes Iran's legislative branch,

because while these government bodies are technically elected,

they are controlled by the regime's

appointed Guardian Council.

That means the regime can disqualify

candidates and reject laws that go through parliament,

overriding the will of the people.

The unelected institutions

have continuously stymied and sabotaged those reforms,

and that has created

a sense of despondency within the society.

So in the last 20 years,

Iranians have taken to the streets at an increasing rate:

against electoral fraud, government corruption,

economic hardship, and again today.

Soon after Amini's death, a video of her funeral went viral.

Women took off their hijabs and the crowd started chanting.

And the chants have taken hold

all over the country.

Usually the pattern of the protests in the past

10, 15 years in Iran is that they often start

with much more narrower objectives or demands.

But this time around, almost from the get-go, the zero-to-100

happened overnight

and immediately there were calls for regime change.

But the system they are trying to change was built

to suppress dissent and protect power at the top.

The idea of having multiple power centers and parallel

institutions, it's for the regime to hedge its bets.

None of these individual elements can on their own pose

a threat to the pinnacle of power in Iran.

Making it nearly impossible

to topple such a multilayered, decentralized power structure.

The fact that there is now no longer

any hopes in the possibility

of reforming the system from within,

it has created a situation in which

the younger generation of Iranians

increasingly believe that they have nothing to lose.

Most of the protesters are young Iranians who were born

after the revolution and inherited a system

they didn't ask for.

Despite the censorship,

young Iranians have caught the world's attention.

Schoolgirls are filming themselves

replacing portraits of the supreme leader with the words

"Woman, life, freedom," setting their hijabs on fire,

and chasing pro-regime educators out of their schools.

The current situation is the product of the Islamic Republic's

failures over the years.

The Islamic Republic failed to create a country

in which the youth could see a future for themselves.

It's really as simple as that.