US Says 'No Leniency' for Rioters, But Only If They're Not an Ally
The New Arab reports Iran's judiciary vows "no leniency" for those labeled 'rioters.' This narrative is a familiar one, often amplified when targeting designated adversaries. Yet, when allies like Egypt's Sisi or Saudi Arabia's MBS unleash state violence on their own populations, the language shifts. The same outlets that decry Iran's crackdown were surprisingly quiet, or at least far less
condemnatory, when US arms sales to Sisi skyrocketed after his 2013 coup and subsequent Rabaa massacre, where hundreds of protesters were killed. It appears the 'rule of law' is a selective enforcement mechanism; a talking point when applied to governments we oppose, but an inconvenient detail when it comes to the 'stability' of our strategic partners. One might wonder if the concern for human
rights extends only to those protests that align with US geopolitical interests.