Khamenei 'Fair,' But Only for *His* Protesters
The New Arab dutifully reports Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's pronouncement that Iranian protesters' economic demands are "completely fair," while simultaneously warning "rioters" will be "put in their place." It's a classic authoritarian pivot: acknowledge legitimate grievances, then demonize dissent that steps outside the permitted lanes. Conveniently unmentioned: the 2019-2020 protests, brutally
suppressed, which also began over economic issues—specifically a fuel price hike engineered partly to offset sanctions' impacts. Back then, protesters demanding economic relief were labeled 'thugs,' not 'fair thinkers.' This rhetorical tightrope act is common global fare. Just last week, House Speaker Mike Johnson lamented the 'chaos' of student protests against US-funded atrocities in Gaza, yet
had no such qualms about pro-Israel counter-protesters who became violent. One might wonder: how many demands become 'unfair' when they question the ruling power structure, rather than just its performance? (Asking for a friend in Tehran, Washington, and every other capital).