Conflict in the Iranian regime – 24 hours |

Source: France Presse

Translation: Innovator

“France Press” agency of France Iran writes that within his regime there is a difference of opinion on the issue of fighting the protests that have been held in the country for months. The commentary is published in English.

USANadir Hashimi, director of the Middle East Studies Center of the University of Denver, told “France Presse” that Iran the information received by them from the authorities shows that there are intense discussions about the protests: “This is natural, because no authoritarian regime consists entirely of hard-liners, especially in times of crisis, some representatives of the government tend to a softer position regarding the degree of repression.”

“France Press” emphasizes that Iran Ali The trial of several protestors, who were sentenced to death, is preliminary court the return to the institution and the release of some well-known persons arrested for supporting the actions is the result of internal debates and a number of officials choosing a softer position: “However, following the execution of two activists in December 2022, two more people were hanged in January 2023. It also reminds us of the uncompromising position of the regime.”

The comment states that mass in Iran protest Although the protests started with a protest against the death of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman who died three days after she was arrested for violating hijab rules in September 2022, later the protests were accompanied by calls to change the religious state structure: the regime has not faced such a major challenge since then. The regime’s desire to suppress the demonstrations by force has already resulted in the death of hundreds of people. According to the information confirmed by Iran’s judicial authorities, thousands of people imprisonment done, 14 a prisoner sentenced to death. Many of those sentenced to death were found guilty of killing or attempting to assassinate security forces.

Ali Court upheld some death sentences. 4 people were sentenced at the end of last year and at the beginning of this year execution was done. And the case with 6 people Ali Court returned to the first court instance for reconsideration”.

USAMehrzad Borujerdi, an Iranian expert living in , co-author of the book “Iran after the Revolution”, told “France Press” that this tactic of the regime “political “calculation”. According to him, on the one hand, the regime understands that if it resorts to mass executions, the situation may become more heated and more people may flock to the streets: “On the other hand, the regime considers it necessary to remind the existence of the death penalty in order not to allow the situation to get out of control and to keep the protesters in fear.” “.

France Press, referring to analysts, writes that the mullah’s regime has made some attempts to soften the situation. During the agency protests imprisonment with two well-known dissidents – Majid Tavakoli Hussein It states that the release of Ronagi is considered as part of these efforts: “Hussein Ronagi’s arrest protest as hunger started his action”.

Mehrzad Borujerdi is also of the opinion that the regime is long-term, starting from wishful thinking and real pressure mechanisms imprisonment uses the most diverse methods for punishments, up to executions: “The government is testing all methods in order to formulate a more effective policy.”

Anoush Ehteshami, director of the Middle East and Islamic Studies Institute of Durham University of Great Britain, in an interview with “France Presse”, attributed the Supreme Court’s return of some cases to the first instance court for reconsideration not only with internal but also with external pressures. Anush Ehteshami also confirmed that the regime’s attitude towards these processes is ambiguous, there are differences of opinion: “On one side are the supporters of the hard line, and on the other side are those who oppose this line saying that the executions will intensify the protest.” Appointment of retrials and release of some opponents are steps taken to suppress the protests. Such measures may not seem sufficient, but the regime in a difficult situation is trying to show that it is humane and reacts to public protests.

Noting that well-known people were detained during the protests, “France Press” cites actress Tarana Alidusti as an example: “They detained her for three weeks for supporting the protests, and then released her on bail.

Some analysts see the regime’s hold-and-go as an attempt to steal people’s attention. Nadir Hashemi believes that when the regime arrests famous people, it checks the public’s reaction, and then releases them taking into account that reaction.”

However, “France Press” notes that a number of famous faces are still held in Iranian prisons: “Among them are the journalists who helped open the death case of Mahsa Amini.”

At the beginning of December 2022, the Prosecutor General of Iran, Mohammad Jafar Muntaziri, said that the morality police had stopped working. However, “France Press” writes that, so far, there has been no official confirmation of this news except the Prosecutor General.

In his statement to “France Press”, Nadir Hashimi described the statement of the chief prosecutor and the fact that the officials did not return to this topic later as an indication of the internal discord. According to him, some of the representatives of the regime are in favor of a more loyal approach to the issue of women’s head coverings, but there are also those who oppose it.

Anush Ehtishami told the agency that some government representatives have already started to speak openly about the importance of concessions: “It is not yet possible to say what this will result in. However, in general, it is not possible to believe that the regime will make decisions according to the wishes of the society, that is, it will make radical changes.”

Nadir Hashemi believes that looking at history, it is possible to see that the Iranian regime does not always take an uncompromising position, but is able to make compromises when necessary: ​​”Let’s not forget that this regime has been alive for 44 years precisely because it was able to make compromises at the right moment to protect its existence.” “.