Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei’s Niece Arrested
(DailyVantage.com) – Iran has experienced a lot of unrest following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the hands of the country’s morality police on September 16. Protests broke out immediately after, and despite the regime’s attempts to regain control — even threatening the death penalty — people continued to take to the streets and speak out against the oppressive government. Most recently, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s niece joined the fray.
Video Calls for World to Cut Ties
On Wednesday, November 23, prosecutors arrested Farideh Moradkhani, Khamenei’s niece and a known activist, when she responded to their summons. Two days later, her brother released a video of her speaking and addressing the world on YouTube, asking foreign governments to “stop supporting this murderous and child-killing regime.”
It’s unclear when she made the video, but Moradkhani is candid in her assessment of the government, saying it has tossed its principles aside and cares only about “force and maintaining its power in any possible way.” She also addressed the sanctions levied against the country, claiming they’re not deterring the government from proceeding as usual.
This incarceration isn’t Moradkhani’s first stint in prison; the regime has occasionally arrested her for speaking out against the regime and its cruelty toward its citizens.
Protests Continue
More than 10 weeks after Amini’s death, protestors continue to make their voices heard in the streets, and many have died in their plight for less oppression. Iranian officials put the death count over 300, but Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh of the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says many weren’t even involved with the protests. Yet, the Iran-based Human Rights Activist News Agency (HRANA) claims the count is considerably understated and puts that toll at 451, including 64 children. Additionally, the group says the regime has detained more than 18,000.
Daily Statistics on Iran Protests#MahsaAmini #Iran #IranProtests2022 pic.twitter.com/yrvtnsnyHV
— HRANA English (@HRANA_English) November 28, 2022
Security forces have resorted to using dangerous weapons, including live ammunition, tear gas, and rubber bullets, to crack down on the uprising. Still, these methods are proving ineffective as people continue to protest despite the risks associated with speaking out.
According to Amnesty International, the judiciary has indicted more than 1,000 on charges related to the protests and is handing out death sentences to those found guilty of “corruption on Earth,” one of the nation’s most egregious offenses.
There’s no accurate way to know how many the government has charged or how many have died in the uprising because the state-controlled media isn’t releasing the information or providing any coverage on the matter. Additionally, Iran is refusing to cooperate with the recently established UN Human Rights Council investigating the protests and the government’s reactions.
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