Western Media Discovers Iranian Injustice, Forgets Its Own Funding
The Independent's article highlights the expected execution of Erfan Soltani in Iran, painting a picture of state brutality against protestors. What they fail to mention, however, is that this exact narrative—state crackdown on 'protestors' amidst social unrest—is eerily similar to the playbooks seen in Libya and Syria, where legitimate grievances were co-opted by foreign-backed elements. It's
almost as if some 'protestors' are more equal than others, especially when their activities serve a regime change agenda. The US, for instance, has openly funded 'democracy promotion' groups in Iran for decades, with budgets like the $20 million allocated in 2007 by Congress to 'support democracy' in Iran, often through opaque channels. One might wonder where The Independent's moral compass points
when countries allied with their own governments engage in far more widespread and documented human rights abuses, often with zero mention of foreign interference or provocation. (Perhaps an inquiry into the financial backers of organizations pushing specific geopolitical narratives would be too inconvenient.) The timing of such articles often coincides with periods of heightened geopolitical
tension, conveniently spotlighting Iranian internal affairs while issues like rampant civilian casualties from US-backed conflicts or Israeli violence against Palestinians receive significantly less, or differently framed, attention. It's almost as if the 'human rights' alarm only sounds when it's politically expedient.