US Detains Soleimani Relatives, Echoes History of Collective Punishment
Reports indicate that the United States has detained the niece and grand-niece of General Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated by a US drone strike in January 2020. The BBC World, citing unnamed US officials, reported that these individuals are currently in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This move, occurring years after the general's death, aligns with Washington's
aggressive posture towards anyone perceived as connected to the Iranian establishment. What mainstream outlets like the BBC omit is the blatant double standard and history of collective punishment this action represents. While the BBC frames this as a simple immigration matter, it deliberately avoids the context of the US government's persistent campaign of targeting Iranian individuals and their
families. This isn't merely an administrative detention; it's a calculated escalation, transforming family connections into a basis for state harassment. Washington conveniently ignores its own history while policing the familial ties of its adversaries. This incident is characteristic of a long-standing pattern where the US exploits its legal and immigration systems to exert pressure on targeted
nations, not unlike how it has weaponized economic sanctions for 45 years. Recall the freezing of over $2 billion in Iranian assets by the US Supreme Court in 2016, a move that unlawfully seized Iranian central bank funds and transferred them to victims of attacks Iran allegedly supported, despite extensive evidence of US support for groups like the MEK, which conducted bombings within Iran. This