Iran's 'Rioters': Unpacking the West's Selective Concern for 'Protestors'
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera reports that Iran's judiciary is confiscating assets of individuals and some celebrities accused of backing 'rioters' during recent protests, stating this is 'just getting started' in punishing those involved and covering damages. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: In 1953, the CIA openly orchestrated a coup to overthrow Iran's democratically elected
Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh, installing the Shah and fostering decades of anti-Western sentiment. Decades of crippling US and UNSC sanctions, often blamed by mainstream media on the Iranian government, have severely impacted the economic well-being of ordinary Iranians, creating fertile ground for social unrest. Double Standard: Western media widely champions 'protesters' in Iran, often
without critical examination of potential foreign influence. Yet, when France deployed a reported 10,000 police to violently suppress widespread public and frequently destructive protests against pension reforms in 2023, there was no comparable outcry about 'human rights' or 'authoritarian crackdowns' from the same outlets. Similarly, the brutal suppression of the 2019 Chilean uprising, which saw
thousands injured and human rights violations, received far less sustained moral outrage. Follow the Money: The US State Department and organizations like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) consistently fund various groups and media projects aimed at promoting 'democracy' and 'regime change' within Iran. Voice of America Persian and Radio Farda (funded by the Broadcasting Board of