Between dream and nightmare – the situation in Iran Indigenous people in Peru release kidnapped tourists – including a Swiss

The dream of a revolution against the government of the mullahs does not fade. Mass protests in Iran triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini have been going on for more than six weeks.

Caught in the nightmare, the people of Iran are losing their fear more and more. In the capital Tehran, protests against the authoritarian regime have turned into increasingly violent uprisings. Eyewitnesses speak of a new dimension to the protests.

It’s not the first wave of protests since the Islamic revolution in 1979. But what’s new: never before had insurrections reached such dynamism.

Fear has now escalated to hatred. It’s a wonder people haven’t given up yet. For their dream to overthrow the government, they accept beatings, freedom and their lives.

At the same time, the government is acting increasingly brutally against the civilian population. Hundreds of people have been arrested and killed following protests. According to human rights groups, arrests are threatened with torture, sexual violence and arbitrariness.

Outside the country, we only get a glimpse of what is really happening in Iran. Journalists cannot report independently because they are silenced by threats and arrests. And it is difficult for information through social media to reach the public because the internet is throttled over a large area and the population is being tracked.

Nevertheless, we have tried to make an overview of the events:

Victims are getting younger

Iranians disappear by the thousands during protests, occasionally returning to their families in coffins. Children are also among the victims.

The regime reportedly does not shy away from using violence against the youngest protesters. This is according to research by Amnesty International.

An 11-year-old boy was allegedly killed by live ammunition during a protest in Zahedan, in southeastern Iran. “His death reflects the atrocities and brutality with which the security forces have responded to the push for freedom,” Amnesty International wrote.

The death of the very young Javad is not an isolated incident.

According to the Amnesty report, he is one of at least 23 children killed in recent weeks. The human rights organization assumes that the number of unreported cases is high.

Deaths are covered up as suicide attempts

According to the government, all of these children died of suicide or terminal illnesses.

Amnesty International reports that families of the deceased children were seriously threatened and intimidated into making an official statement that their children had committed suicide or were ill.

If the parents don’t explain, the government will.

After the death of 16-year-old demonstrator Sarina Esmaeilzadeh, the government alleged that the girl had fallen from her grandmother’s high-rise building. According to human rights groups, she was beaten to death by the vice squad.

Another example is the case of 16-year-old Nika Shakarami. According to media reports, the girl was reportedly killed by blows to the head of the vice squad. Authorities say she committed suicide.

More than 14,000 arrests, including children

More than 280 people have been killed and more than 14,000 arrested since the ongoing protests, according to human rights groups.

Among those arrested were children. According to reports, 15-year-old Asal Nahi is being held in an Iranian prison. The family did not know the reason for the arrest. You will be denied any contact.

Also imprisoned are prominent Iranian figures, including Iranian rapper ToomajSalehi – the musical voice of the resistance.

In his lyrics he criticizes the mullah regime. After his arrest in early November, he posted a blindfolded video to his followers. He apologizes in a broken voice for his statements.

Journalist Nazila Maroufian also criticized the regime. She has reportedly been arrested by relatives and is being held in Evin Prison.

A reason for the arrest is currently unknown. One thing is clear: Maroufian covered the protests in Iran. Presumably she is still alive as she wrote in an article:

The prison in which she has been held since Sunday is known for the execution of political prisoners.

Another known detainee is human rights activist Hossein Ronaghi, who was arrested in Tehran on September 22. His family has been in jail for 20 days for information about Hossein. Ronaghi has been on a hunger strike for weeks.

He was accused of being a “criminal of the earth”. That’s the death penalty.

Government ignores Sharia

Sharia is the legal system of Islam and includes all religious and legal norms. Depending on the country, the Scharfia is applied differently.

According to the Iranian interpretation of Sharia, women are not equal to men. Men are allowed to use violence against their wives. Marital rape, for example, is not a criminal offence.

Sharia is sacred to the mullahs. Anyone who does not follow the applicable laws will be reprimanded by the moral police.

But even the Islamic Republic would ignore certain laws. Under Sharia law, relatives of detained protesters must be informed of their whereabouts. “The state doesn’t even follow the laws it has passed,” human rights lawyer Saeid Dehghan told DW.

Iranian leader blames arch-enemies

“Death to the dictator”, the protesters shout during the protests. The calls are directed to Ali Khamenei, Iran’s political and religious leader. The leader blames the uprisings abroad, especially among the Islamic Republic’s nemesis. “The riots were all planned by America and Israel,” Khamenei said in a recent public speech. They want to attack the Iranian religion. Abolish the headscarf and set fire to mosques.

Except for ruler Khamenei, not many high-ranking figures have spoken out publicly about the protests – let alone criticized the regime. Except Ayatollah Alavi Boroujerdi, one of the highest Shia cleric. In a speech, he calls on the leader to take action: “Our young people have something to say. Give them space to express themselves.”