As details of the death toll for January’s protests continue to emerge, three students explain why they are resisting a return to normality

As details of the death toll for January’s protests continue to emerge, three students explain why they are resisting a return to normality

More than 45 days after a brutal January crackdown that left thousands of Iranian protesters dead, students across several universities are protesting again. As Iran’s new academic term began on Saturday, students in Tehran gathered on campus, chanting anti-government slogans, despite a heavy security presence and plainclothes officers stationed outside university gates.

The Guardian spoke to protesting students about why they were rallying despite the fact that thousands had been killed and tens of thousands arrested in the January demonstrations.

“Our classrooms are empty because the graveyards are full,” said Hossein*, 21, a student at the University of Tehran. “It’s for them – our friends, classmates and compatriots, who were gunned down in front of our eyes, that we decided to boycott the classes.”

  • couldhavebeenyou@lemmy.zipEnglish
    12·
    5 hours ago

    I think you don’t have the slightest idea of what life would be like under the boot of IS (pretty comparable to Iran in most regards, imo) or even what life was like under Assad. Can you let me know how the current Syrian government is ‘massacring minorities’? Because that seems like quite the overstatement. Sure they’re islamists but Turkey seems to have the leash on pretty tight.

    Funny tangent you’re going on in the second half. USSR kickstarted German conquests allying with them at the start of WW2. And when they were inevitably stabbed in the back they had to call on the US to supply them so they had a bit more than their bare hands to fight back. I’m sure you can’t see the resemblance to the situation the Iranian people find themselves in.

    • QinShiHuangsShlong@lemmy.mlEnglish
      1·
      5 hours ago

      USSR kickstarted German conquests allying with them at the start of WW2

      Ah you’re one of these people. Ok conversation with you will not be productive. Continue believing what you want all the best.

      • couldhavebeenyou@lemmy.zipEnglish
        1·
        4 hours ago

        Hey as I’m currently enjoying some WW2 flight sim, here’s a relevant fun fact to close with :-)

        What plane did the top USSR ace use to kill most of his nazi’s?

        Do you think the plane would have been able to do it without him in it?