New allegations about the "plotting of Mahsa Amini's murder" and the government's response

New allegations have been published about the "plotting of Mahsa Amini's murder," indicating that the government is blaming other individuals.

Kayhan newspaper, in a new and questionable report, claimed that Mahsa Amini’s death was part of a conscious, led, and organized project and movement. The newspaper wrote in its report: “The fundamental difference between this movement (the riots and disturbances after Mahsa Amini’s death) and other protests that we have had in Iran in recent years is that this movement was conscious, led, and organized, and its day and hour were determined, and its outcome was also determined.”

Such narratives, along with what Kayhan and allied media have published, attempt to link the events to "foreign planning" and downplay the role of domestic actors and the suffering of the people.

The published report referred to the unprecedented interview and confessions of the leader of "Komaleh", which were unprecedented and very strange. Then, documents were unintentionally published showing that Mahsa Amini's cousin, "Irfan Mortezai", was a member of the Komaleh party, whose photos and interviews were published.

Erfan Mortezai was the first person to publicize Mahsa Amini's death by posting clips of himself wearing a uniform and carrying a flag from Iraqi Kurdistan. Based on his statements, other foreign and domestic media outlets also reported and wrote about Mahsa Amini's planned death. It is possible that Erfan Mortezai also entered the field on the orders of certain circles and was trying to signal the beginning of the unrest by announcing that Mahsa Amini had been killed by the police.

At the same time, the devastating case that began with Mahsa's death sparked widespread reactions inside and outside Iran. Mahsa's death in September 2022 (Shahrivar 16, 1401) sparked nationwide protests that echoed the slogan "Woman, Life, Freedom" in different parts of the country, leading to demonstrations, strikes, and days of unrest in cities. International institutions and media outlets have also published numerous reports on the reasons for and effects of this killing.

The documents that some groups and analysts have published (and newspapers have also cited) about the role of foreign networks and armed groups or opposition are still controversial, and there are many questions about the origin and credibility of some reports.

To definitively link everything that happened to a “premeditated project” requires clear and credible evidence. Big claims must be supported by solid, independent evidence. Something that the official narrative and some of the accompanying reports have not yet fully provided.

One of the recurring mechanisms in official responses is also an attempt to distort reality: pretending that “the people” are the cause of the crisis, so that the government and the repressive forces themselves avoid accountability. Narratives that present the deaths and protests as “foreignly designed projects” do exactly that. The internal and structural causes of social anger, poverty, discrimination, corruption, and lack of accountability, are hidden and the blame is shifted to foreign actors or “rioters.” This tactic has two goals: 1) to legitimize repression and security measures, and 2) to absolve the elites and responsible institutions of real responsibility for the failure to govern the country.

Contemporary history is full of examples where governments have sought external or internal blame to maintain their legitimacy rather than reform. This strategy is not only counterproductive, but also undermines society’s ability to negotiate and resolve real economic, legal, and cultural crises. For this reason, exposing such narratives and demanding transparency and accountability from those in charge is of vital importance.

Following Mahsa’s death, a wave of protests erupted, reportedly resulting in widespread violence and repression; human rights organizations and international reports have reported hundreds of deaths, thousands of arrests, and dozens of alleged human rights violations. Official reports and international institutions have also come to the conclusion that Mahsa’s death and the subsequent government response require an independent investigation. These facts show that the pressure and repression have not only not ended, but have also intensified at times.

Mahsa Amini’s death was a tipping point that brought out the categorization of emotions and hidden anger in society. This anger is deep-rooted: economic pain, poverty, unemployment, social restrictions, and political repression are intertwined. When young people, women, and workers took to the streets, they stood not just to protest an incident, but to end a series of injustices.

Subsequent repressions showed that the government, faced with a broad social demand, uses the tools of violence and widespread arrest to crush the movement. However, any repression that is met with violence may temporarily set back the movement, but it is never able to eradicate the roots of its emergence.

If peaceful and sustained protests, organized from below and based on livelihood and legal demands, continue, the chances of real change will increase. Recent history has shown that sustained resistance, solidarity between different social groups, and clear direction of demands (livelihood, social justice, civil liberties) can transform the asymmetric balance of power. So the message is simple: keep going, stay united, organize your demands clearly and peacefully, and victory will be within reach.