The Big Middle Eastern Thread

[Dr. Gonzo]

And for this, Argentina > Brazil for eternity.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Bloodbath in Mahabad (Mahsa Amino’s hometown in Kurdistan) today. And IRGC troops going into houses kidnapping people, giving off some Nazi-esque vibes in the videos that have gone around insta.

It’s basically genocide, they’re trying to blame the nationwide protests on Kurdish dissidents and separatists & cracking down on Kurds as a scapegoat.

[Waylander]

There is history with this in regards to Syria and Iraq, when protest breaks out the politically minded Kurds then act to try and take advantage to push for independence.

Iran will be aware of what happened in Syria when the protests took place and led to civil war. So I would not surprised to see them act aggressively. That may backfire.

On the alternative press never mentioned in the mainstream press over 120 Syrian troops were allegedly killed in the Syrian Kurdish area. As well as the protests in Damascus where snipers were allegedly operating so they decided to ban the protests. That did not end well there is still fighting though little reporting now Ukraine is in the news.

Watch Turkey become very uncomfortable if the Kurdish area in Iran becomes active, Turkey has the biggest Kurdish population at around 12m and were attacked by the Turkish state in the 90s with villages being destroyed. The West was largely silent as Turkey is in NATO and also conspired to help the Turks get Ocalan the PKK leader kidnapped from a neutral country. 

I occasionally watch some of the US fictional tv programs about 'CIA' kill teams being flown into third party countries with snipers and RPGs with high power telescopes and helicopters ready to extract their  teams. Although fictional I think this may actually be based on real covert military action.

in 2003 I used to wake to BBC radio 4 on my radio alarm and remember them discussing reports of British specialist forces working the Peshmerga to attack Iraqi military outposts.

BBC person 2 - We have not declared war on Iraq it can't be true!

BBC person 1 - That is what the report says. 

Later I caught a senior military chap on a BBC Sunday talk show saying the Treaty of Westphalia does not mean anything now. I was shocked by this.

Machiavellian policy never went away it just went underground.

 

 

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

There's footage I'd like to share... but I also think it might be a bit too disturbing to post on a football forum.

It's pretty disturbing following this as closely as I can sat half a world away.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Farideh Moradkhani, Khamenei's niece, posted a video a few days ago urging world leaders (mostly EU, UK and India are the ones who can be trusted to cut off these ties) to cut all ties with the IRI. She's been arrested. Got nothing but respect for her tbh, she could have kept quiet about the oppression taken some of the country's wealth and fucked off to Canada or the UK like so many other family members of the leaders. Instead she's stayed in Iran and become an activist.

Also I know it is a difficult thing for the EU with Russia being a bunch of cunts, but cutting off the IRI is necessary. It doesn't matter that they have lots of oil and natural gas and Europe needs it right now. Europe can not pretend it stands for human rights while maintaining any sort of relationship with the IRI. The nuclear talks don't matter at the moment either. Maximum pressure on the IRI is the only thing that matters with regard to foreign policy with Iran right now.

Sever all ties. Confiscate Iranian assets funneled out of the country by the leadership. Detain, or better yet, deport their families - the way Ukraine deported Iranian students back into harms way... but this time it would be the children of the people who make the rest of the country suffer. People who might actually change Iranian leadership's mind about their oppression.

And for those who are curious - here's her video:

 

[Tommy]

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

vaguest and most non-committal statement he could make without keeping totally quiet about it 

[Waylander]

I wouldn't be surprised to see 'fireworks' going off in Iran next year though I also think the Mullahs will hold on.

[Dr. Gonzo]

I hope we're seeing Mullahs hung in the streets in the not-too-distant future.

But I'd settle for less if it just means an end to the theocracy.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Big credit to the male students of Afghanistan walking out on their universities after the Taliban banned women from continuing university education there.

It's actually a fairly serious problem for Afghanistan, because as bad as the IRI is... the Taliban are much more backwards and repressive (and that's fucking saying something!). I'm fairly certain under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, women who have medical issues can only be treated by women doctors. Ending university education for women will ultimately lead to there being no more female doctors in Afghanistan... or at least no formally educated doctors. It's effectively cutting off a gender from... access to basic healthcare.

Like the IRI, the Taliban is likely to react to any protests with extreme violence (in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it's more extreme and more violence). So these young men effectively are putting their lives on the line in protest of the extreme inequality the taliban want to force on them. Also, it is truly astounding the absolute mess the west managed to make in Afghanistan. Wtf was the 20 years of occupation for? Backing corrupt warlords didn't build a nation, it made people not trust the government. Funding armies made up of people that didn't exist to some generals could get rich was never going to be sufficient to protect the public from a taliban lying low hoping for the US to fuck off. Weren't NATO troops meant to be training these armies? How did none of these militaries make note of how this massive army they were meant to be training seemed to not have the same number of recruits it was claiming to have?

I feel bad for the kids of Kabul who had 20 years growing up without the Taliban taking their lives to the Middle Ages who now find themselves in this absolute bullshit situation.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Ali Daei’s on house arrest because he supports people having human rights & now they’ve stopped his wife and daughter from getting away to safety… I hope they stay safe.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-64097382

[Azeem]

Reports that Turkey is ready to pull out its troops from Syria after talks between them, Moscow and Syria. Huge if true

[Waylander]

2 hours ago, Beelzebub said:

Reports that Turkey is ready to pull out its troops from Syria after talks between them, Moscow and Syria. Huge if true

Turkey seems to chop and change depending on who is putting on the pressure. 

I don't think we can tell if this is a permanent move or not.

Read yesterday that Iran is offering continued education for women students in Afghanistan not sure if the Taliban will accept this.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Why does the BBC like the Islamic Republic of Iran so much? It's probably the most IRI friendly English-language media source other than Press TV (which is the IRI's own government propaganda in English).

[Dr. Gonzo]

now investigate those 9 MEPs and I'll bet you'll find 9 MEPs making money off the revolutionary guard.

[Michael]

Two fans have died and 83 fans have been injured in a stampede to enter Basra stadium that will host the final of the Arabian Gulf Cup between Iraq and Oman. This years Gulf Cup is the first time Iraq has hosted an international football tournament for decades, due to the turmoil that Iraq has experienced over the past 30 years or so. Iraqi fans from all over Iraq, with many apparently without tickets for the final, flocked to try and get into the stadium. Many have been reported to have camped outside the stadium from yesterday, in order to attend the final that takes place today. The Gulf Cup, which is a regional tournament has seen Iraq reach the final and it's the first time Iraq has reached the final of a football tournament since Iraq won the Asian Cup in 2007. The deaths from this stampede are very sad and unfortunate, while some of the injured have sustained very serious injuries.

Iraq: Two dead and dozens injured after 'stampede' outside football stadium | Metro News

[Dr. Gonzo]

Josep Borrell is a modern day Chamberlain with his refusal to have the EU call the revolutionary guard a terrorist organisation.

Disgusting man thinking that Europeans getting oil and gas is more important than human rights. Shame on the EU.

[Azeem]

Israel attacks military faculties in Iran. Only two confirmed though rest of the stuff on media seems fake

[Dr. Gonzo]

On 28/01/2023 at 20:29, Beelzebub said:

Israel attacks military faculties in Iran. Only two confirmed though rest of the stuff on media seems fake

Reports of an IRGC convoy struck in Syria too.

[Dr. Gonzo]

Biggest day of protests in Iran since the winter rolled around. And then the Jerusalem Post says that Khamenei has funneled $4b USD to his son's account in Venezuela. While the thievery is disgusting, and likely to go unpunished, I hope this means the end of the IRI is near and these bastards are planning on fleeing like the cowards they are.

20 independent union organizations in Iran have also made their demands for what they want to see changed in the country before they stop calling for strikes and protests:

1. Unconditional release of all prisoners and a public trial of those responsible for suppressing protests
2. Freedom of expression, thought, local and national union gatherings, strikes, social networks, press and political parties
3. Abolition of the death penalty and torture
4. Full equality between man and women in all fields + end of all discrimination against sexual minorities and the decriminalisation of sexual orientations
5. Separation of politics and religion

Sounds great to me, I hope they succeed.

[Spike]

4 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Biggest day of protests in Iran since the winter rolled around. And then the Jerusalem Post says that Khamenei has funneled $4b USD to his son's account in Venezuela. While the thievery is disgusting, and likely to go unpunished, I hope this means the end of the IRI is near and these bastards are planning on fleeing like the cowards they are.

20 independent union organizations in Iran have also made their demands for what they want to see changed in the country before they stop calling for strikes and protests:

1. Unconditional release of all prisoners and a public trial of those responsible for suppressing protests
2. Freedom of expression, thought, local and national union gatherings, strikes, social networks, press and political parties
3. Abolition of the death penalty and torture
4. Full equality between man and women in all fields + end of all discrimination against sexual minorities and the decriminalisation of sexual orientations
5. Separation of politics and religion

Sounds great to me, I hope they succeed.

Sounds like something the west would love not to happen.

[Eco]

4 hours ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

Biggest day of protests in Iran since the winter rolled around. And then the Jerusalem Post says that Khamenei has funneled $4b USD to his son's account in Venezuela. While the thievery is disgusting, and likely to go unpunished, I hope this means the end of the IRI is near and these bastards are planning on fleeing like the cowards they are.

20 independent union organizations in Iran have also made their demands for what they want to see changed in the country before they stop calling for strikes and protests:

1. Unconditional release of all prisoners and a public trial of those responsible for suppressing protests
2. Freedom of expression, thought, local and national union gatherings, strikes, social networks, press and political parties
3. Abolition of the death penalty and torture
4. Full equality between man and women in all fields + end of all discrimination against sexual minorities and the decriminalisation of sexual orientations
5. Separation of politics and religion

Sounds great to me, I hope they succeed.

It's fantastic to see this. Truly is.

There has been marches nationwide in solidarity to the Iranian people, and two of them were here in Atlanta. At work, there are a few Iranians and it's just unreal to hear stories about what is taking place there... Truly shocking.

I hope your family is well (I think your Mom's family is still over there if I'm remembering correctly), but yeah, seeing the people of Iran stand up for their rights is completely inspiring.

[Dr. Gonzo]

11 minutes ago, Eco said:

It's fantastic to see this. Truly is.

There has been marches nationwide in solidarity to the Iranian people, and two of them were here in Atlanta. At work, there are a few Iranians and it's just unreal to hear stories about what is taking place there... Truly shocking.

I hope your family is well (I think your Mom's family is still over there if I'm remembering correctly), but yeah, seeing the people of Iran stand up for their rights is completely inspiring.

Yeah the positive stuff is really nice to see, because honestly seeing how the IRI's responded to people demanding... basic human rights... has been pretty disturbing and honestly it's not been great for my mental health. But the positive stuff, like these organizations coming together despite ideological differences for a common cause for a better Iran... it's good to see things like that in the face of the IRI's brutality.

And thanks. They're mostly okay, although - they've not been totally unscathed by everything that's happened in the past few months - none of them have been killed, at least. But it's not been an easy time these past few months.

[Dr. Gonzo]

German-Iranian sentenced to death today: https://iranwire.com/en/prisoners/114019-iranian-german-dissident-sharmahd-sentenced-to-death-in-iran/

I think he's the guy the IRI kidnapped from Dubai because of his work with opposition groups within Iran. But still the EU refuses to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization because of the desire to have low energy costs.

[Dr. Gonzo]

I don't like the man's father - because he was a foreign imposed dictator that came after a popularly elected PM was ousted for wanting to do what was best for his country economically - but Reza Pahlavi has said all of the right things in the wake of these uprisings & is probably now the most prominent member of what Iranians are calling the "coalition of resistance" - which is probably the closest thing this movement has to any real leadership.

Despite being the son of an ousted dictator, he's rejected the notion that Iran should go back to absolute monarchy and is very strongly pushing the idea that the EU needs to be more focused on pushing towards regime change leading to secular democracy in the country. He makes a few points about why this would be an economic and security benefit to the EU (and Europe as a whole).

 

I think he should be listened to, especially as Iranians are begging EU politicians to label the revolutionary guard (who basically now control the entirety of Iran's economy) as a terrorist group, like the US has. I still think if the IRI falls, leadership for Iran should come from within Iran... and I'm sure many of the domestic leaders in the movement there are in places like Evin. But this coalition of prominent Iranians in the diaspora is proving useful in coordinating both the diaspora and Iranians in Iran - and Pahlavi is saying all of the right things to try to persuade the west to actively do more without dropping bombs.