Trump Criticizes Government Violence and Internet Shutdown in Iran

Donald Trump responded on Twitter for the first time since the start of street protests in Iran. He criticized the internet shutdown and characterized it as an attempt by the Iranian government to prevent reporting on acts of violence against the Iranian people.

Trump Criticizes Government Violence and Internet Shutdown in Iran

Six days after the start of street protests in Iran over gasoline price increases, which soon turned into anti-government demonstrations in many cities accompanied by severe violence by security forces against protesters, Donald Trump wrote on his Twitter account on Thursday, November 21 (November 30 in the Persian calendar) regarding the internet shutdown in Iran: “Iran has become so unstable that the regime has shut down the entire internet system so that the great people of Iran cannot talk about the very violent actions being taken against them in this country.”

The internet in Iran has been shut down since last Saturday, November 16, following the escalation of protests against the tripling of gasoline prices.

The U.S. President wrote in another tweet: “They do not want any transparency to exist. They think the world will not learn about the deaths and tragedies that the Iranian regime has caused.”

Amnesty International announced two days ago that 106 people were killed in these protests, hundreds were injured, and more than a thousand were arrested. Unofficial sources have reported these numbers to be much higher.

Previously, Mike Pence, U.S. Vice President, in response to nationwide protests against the tripling of gasoline prices and poor economic conditions in Iran and the suppression by the authorities, expressed American support for the people’s demonstrations in Iran in a message.

On Thursday, November 30 (November 21), Pence wrote on his Twitter account: “While Iranians have taken to the streets to protest, the clerics in Tehran continue to perpetrate violence and imprison people. America’s message is clear: the American people stand with the Iranian nation.”

German Government Strongly Criticizes Violence Against Protesters in Iran

A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry on Thursday, November 21 (November 30), in Berlin, regarding the recent protests in Iran and the high number of protesters killed by the Islamic Republic’s security forces, stated: “We are shocked by reports of over 100 people being killed and condemn the disproportionate actions of Iranian security forces.”

The German Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson asked the Islamic Republic of Iran to respect people’s right to peaceful protest.

The German diplomatic agency’s spokesperson also clarified: “People in Iran should have the opportunity to express their dissatisfaction with the political and economic situation and to freely and peacefully express their views.” He continued: “We ask Iranian security forces to exercise maximum restraint.”

The German Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson also said that the German government, furthermore, expects Iran’s leadership to completely end the internet shutdown in the country.

Amnesty International announced two days ago that 106 people were killed in these protests, hundreds were injured, and more than a thousand were arrested. Unofficial sources have reported these numbers to be much higher.

The protests in Iran, which began following the tripling of gasoline prices, quickly took on a different character and targeted the entire system.

Iranian domestic media have blamed the Supreme National Security Council for the widespread internet shutdown following the start of protests over the increase in gasoline prices. The internet in Iran has been shut down since Saturday, November 16, following the escalation of the protests.

Iranian Tourism Agencies’ Contact with Foreign Countries Has Been Completely Cut Off

The head of the Iranian Tour Operators Association informed the National Security Council about the severance of contact with tourists and foreign agencies due to the internet shutdown.

According to ISNA, Ebrahim Pourfaraj wrote in this letter that he does not know whether the agencies and tourists have agreed to travel to Iran or have withdrawn.

He said: “We cannot correspond with any agency outside the country. We have no information about the results of their decisions about traveling to Iran. All previous communications with foreign agencies and tourists have gone unanswered.”

Pourfaraj added: “The usual procedure was to communicate with tourists and foreign agencies through internet messengers, and direct telephone or fax communication rarely occurred. Now, with the internet shutdown, all access has also been cut off.”

German Left Party Calls for an End to Crackdown on Demonstrations in Iran

Stephan Liebich, spokesperson for the parliamentary faction of Germany’s Left Party, on Wednesday, November 20 (November 29), in a statement referring to recent protests in Iran, wrote: “But people in Iran should be able to peacefully express their opposition to the gasoline rationing. Freedom of assembly and opinion must be respected by the Iranian government even in these circumstances.”

The spokesperson for the parliamentary faction of Germany’s Left Party asked the German government to call on Tehran to end the repressive measures against the demonstrators.

European Union Calls for “Maximum Restraint” by Iranian Government

The European Union on Thursday, November 21 (November 30) asked the officials of the Islamic Republic to show “maximum restraint” regarding the protesters over economic conditions in Iran.

Maya Kosyanochich, spokesperson responsible for the foreign policy of the European Union, while offering condolences to the families of those killed in Iran’s recent protests, called for dialogue to resolve tensions.

According to the French News Agency, the spokesperson for Federica Mogherini, in a statement, added: “We expect Iran to exercise maximum restraint regarding the protests. We also ask the protesters to express their opposition peacefully. Any acts of violence are unacceptable.”

“The Killing Machine in Iran Must Stop Immediately!”

A group of Iranians abroad in an open letter addressed to António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Javaid Rehman, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Kelly Scott, President of the UN Human Rights Council, asked them to “raise your voice of protest to the Iranian government and demand it to stop the killing machine and its deliberate, calculated, and unjust policies against the citizens of Iran.”

The letter states: “The negligence of influential institutions at the global level regarding this dangerous situation is a major encouragement to the Islamic system ruling Iran to continue its criminal and inhumane behavior against all those who insist on maintaining human rights in their country through peaceful methods.”

Mike Pence: The American People Stand With the Iranian People

Mike Pence, U.S. Vice President, in response to nationwide protests against the tripling of gasoline prices and poor economic conditions in Iran and the suppression by the authorities, expressed American support for the people’s demonstrations in Iran in a message.

On Thursday, November 30, Pence wrote on his Twitter account: “While Iranians have taken to the streets to protest, the clerics in Tehran continue to perpetrate violence and imprison people. America’s message is clear: the American people stand with the Iranian nation.”

“End the Deadly Measures Against the Protesters”

Campaign for Human Rights in Iran announced in a statement about recent protests in Iran that the use of violence by Iranian authorities against protesters in Iran, including the use of firearms and weapons, has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people.

This human rights organization states: “These acts of violence, which have been confirmed in reports and videos by citizens outside Iran and through interviews with eyewitnesses by the Campaign as well as international and human rights organizations and independent activists, indicate that security personnel are shooting at unarmed citizens and have killed many. The Campaign asks the authorities to employ peaceful and non-violent methods of crowd control in accordance with international regulations.”

Officials Must End the Deadly Crackdown on Protesters

The “Society for the Defense of Human Rights in Iran” and the “Center for Defenders of Human Rights” announced in a statement: “Iranian officials must immediately end the deadly crackdown on protesters who have taken to the streets in many cities to express their opposition to the increase in gasoline prices.”

The Society for the Defense of Human Rights in Iran and the Center for Defenders of Human Rights stated: “Based on international human rights treaties to which Iran is a committed signatory, officials have a duty to investigate violations of human rights, including regarding the use of deadly violence by law enforcement officers and plainclothes security personnel, and hold the perpetrators accountable.”

Source: DW