The Oppressive Silence of Western Media
When many young people in Iran are killed every day by the Islamic Republic regime, where is the Western world? The issue is not just Western media, but rather the oppressive silence of most major Western media outlets that matters.
The events and people who risk their lives for justice have created contradictory feelings in the world. There is joy and motivation about their courage for change, and this motivation is freedom itself. Seeing them suppressed by the murderous, destructive, and devastating regime is painful.
News agencies and governments have a duty to prioritize and be accountable for events in Iran by any measure and standard. It should be announced on the front page with large headlines, in the news of the entire world. In recent days, half a million people around the world marched against the regime to show that they stand in solidarity with the Iranian people. These Iranians living abroad could not be more proud of being Iranian. Did you notice it by turning on a news channel or searching the front pages of newspapers? Was it seen in statements from Western governments?
Hundreds of top university students have been besieged within universities, killed, beaten, and arrested. Can you imagine that if this happened in the Western world, it would not be in news headlines and topics of discussion?
The Prime Minister of Canada posted a tweet about some soft policy changes. The President of France meets with Raisi. The President of America is awaiting the signing of a nuclear agreement. European leaders are talking about a few more minor sanctions. Is this really the response that governments give to these massive protests?
Is the reason for this indifference only because Iran is in the Middle East? Do Iranians matter less because of their different appearance, accent, and green skin color? Or is it because maintaining this regime in a position of power and having perpetual enmity is useful for the West?
What goes through the minds of Western leaders and freedom advocates who speak about social justice? Have they completely silenced themselves on basic human rights in Iran?
But certainly the West can do more. This is not about intervention, but rather about paying attention. Attention that can support those present in Iran and suppress this regime. If it is not yet time for governments, large corporations, and major media outlets in the West to defend human rights, then when is the right time?
