Iran's government has stepped up its crackdown on protests in Kurdish areas, using military-grade weapons and increasing security measures to suppress dissent. The latest round of demonstrations erupted in cities across Iran, including Tehran's Grand Bazaar, where protesters voiced frustration over the currency crisis.
In Saqqez, a highland town in northwest Iran, Diako Alavi, who fled the country three years ago, is struggling to get information about his family, many of whom are living under surveillance. Alavi attended Jina Mahsa Amini's funeral and participated in protests that sparked a nationwide opposition movement after her death in police custody in 2022.
This time, however, the situation in Saqqez appears calmer, with limited protests and a more subdued atmosphere. But human rights groups say the regime's actions are getting worse, with reports of security forces using automatic or semi-automatic machine guns on crowds in Tehran and other central provinces.
Iran's Kurds have historically opposed the Islamic Republic and have borne the brunt of brutal crackdowns since 1979. The regime's use of military-grade weapons against protesters in Kurdish areas is a stark contrast to its past response, which used more limited force. Shukriya Bradost, a Middle East security expert, notes that the Iranian regime is using "the same military weapons" in Tehran and other central provinces as it does in the Kurdish regions.
The latest crackdown has resulted in over 3,100 deaths, including 2,427 "martyrs" who were killed by security forces or died from injuries sustained during protests. Human rights groups put the figure much higher, with estimates ranging from 5,000 to 20,000. The regime's actions have sparked concerns about stability in Iran and for minority groups.
The opposition is also divided over a potential leader, Reza Pahlavi, who has emerged as a candidate to unite disparate groups against the regime. However, his ties to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are a divisive issue among Iranians, particularly those from Kurdish communities who suffered under the Pahlavi monarchy.
The situation in Iran highlights the international community's failure to address the root causes of the Kurdish problem across borders. The region remains plagued by conflict and diplomacy failures, with Syria's fighting between Kurdish SDF fighters and government forces under Turkey-backed interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa being just the latest example.
Diako Alavi, who now lives in France, sees new players and administrations playing new geopolitical games in the region, which provides no grounds for optimism. He attended an Iranian opposition demonstration outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where some participants waved Israeli flags, which dismayed him. "There are people who don't like that, you know," he said.
The US President's changing discourse on Iran has added to the unease among Iranians, with Trump's verbal offensive sparking concerns about intervention. Alavi expressed frustration at being stuck between two forces neither of which is acceptable and feeling guilty for not being able to support his community. "The biggest thing is feeling guilty," he said. "I see that with almost all my Iranian friends all over the world, we're all feeling guilty for not being there."
In Saqqez, a highland town in northwest Iran, Diako Alavi, who fled the country three years ago, is struggling to get information about his family, many of whom are living under surveillance. Alavi attended Jina Mahsa Amini's funeral and participated in protests that sparked a nationwide opposition movement after her death in police custody in 2022.
This time, however, the situation in Saqqez appears calmer, with limited protests and a more subdued atmosphere. But human rights groups say the regime's actions are getting worse, with reports of security forces using automatic or semi-automatic machine guns on crowds in Tehran and other central provinces.
Iran's Kurds have historically opposed the Islamic Republic and have borne the brunt of brutal crackdowns since 1979. The regime's use of military-grade weapons against protesters in Kurdish areas is a stark contrast to its past response, which used more limited force. Shukriya Bradost, a Middle East security expert, notes that the Iranian regime is using "the same military weapons" in Tehran and other central provinces as it does in the Kurdish regions.
The latest crackdown has resulted in over 3,100 deaths, including 2,427 "martyrs" who were killed by security forces or died from injuries sustained during protests. Human rights groups put the figure much higher, with estimates ranging from 5,000 to 20,000. The regime's actions have sparked concerns about stability in Iran and for minority groups.
The opposition is also divided over a potential leader, Reza Pahlavi, who has emerged as a candidate to unite disparate groups against the regime. However, his ties to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are a divisive issue among Iranians, particularly those from Kurdish communities who suffered under the Pahlavi monarchy.
The situation in Iran highlights the international community's failure to address the root causes of the Kurdish problem across borders. The region remains plagued by conflict and diplomacy failures, with Syria's fighting between Kurdish SDF fighters and government forces under Turkey-backed interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa being just the latest example.
Diako Alavi, who now lives in France, sees new players and administrations playing new geopolitical games in the region, which provides no grounds for optimism. He attended an Iranian opposition demonstration outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, where some participants waved Israeli flags, which dismayed him. "There are people who don't like that, you know," he said.
The US President's changing discourse on Iran has added to the unease among Iranians, with Trump's verbal offensive sparking concerns about intervention. Alavi expressed frustration at being stuck between two forces neither of which is acceptable and feeling guilty for not being able to support his community. "The biggest thing is feeling guilty," he said. "I see that with almost all my Iranian friends all over the world, we're all feeling guilty for not being there."
The whole situation in Iran is so tragic 
I feel like we're stuck watching this unfold from afar and can't do much to help. It's crazy how one person's death (RIP Jina) can spark such a massive movement, but also lead to even more violence and suffering 
As a fan of Reza Pahlavi, it's frustrating that his ties to Netanyahu are causing tension among Iranians. I wish he'd focus on uniting the people instead of worrying about external relationships 
Meanwhile, Diako's story is heartbreaking 
Being stuck between two forces, neither of which you can support, must be so tough for him 
Can we please just provide more support to the Kurdish community in Iran? They deserve our help and solidarity 
, with the regime's actions against protesters in kurdish areas escalating to alarming levels 
. it's heartbreaking to think about diako alavi struggling to get information about his family, who are living under surveillance 
. the use of military-grade weapons by security forces is a stark contrast to the past response and only serves to further exacerbate the crisis 
. the ongoing conflict in syria and turkey's involvement are just more examples of the region's instability 
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. meanwhile, diako alavi feels stuck between two forces and guilty for not being able to support his community, highlighting the desperation and frustration felt by many Iranians 
.
. it's essential that we acknowledge the complexities of this issue and work towards a more nuanced understanding of the kurdish problem 
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the situation in iran is super messed up you know? they're using military-grade weapons on innocent people and it's just not right 
. but nope, iran is still getting away with it and it's just frustrating because people are dying and being arrested left and right 
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. I feel so bad for people like Diako Alavi who are struggling to get info about their family cuz they're living under surveillance. It's like, the regime is taking it to a whole new level with military-grade weapons and security measures. And 3,100+ deaths is just... wow 
. The fact that human rights groups are estimating way more deaths is even more disturbing.
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. The government's crackdown on protests just seems too aggressive, like they're trying to silence dissent before it gets out of hand 
. And have you seen the numbers they're citing? 3,100 deaths and 5,000-20,000 more? That sounds way too high for me 
. I think someone's covering something up.
. And let's not forget about the US President's sudden change of heart on Iran - is that some kind of setup? 
I'm not buying it.