Pahlavi’s Fascist Staff Beat Up Protesters – A Dangerous Threat to the Struggle for a Better Future in Iran
While Reza Pahlavi is not in power in Iran and cannot arrest protesters to make them political prisoners, this incident in Brussels portends dangers to political dissidents similar to those now imprisoned, beaten, tortured or killed by the IRI.
The SAVAK-like behavior of Reza Pahlavi’s staff reached a new low on February 20. In Brussels, Belgium, where more than 5,000 people, mostly Iranian diaspora, marched and rallied outside the EU Council, thugs in security armbands carried out a vicious attack on one protester. While Masih Alinejad was speaking on stage, these goons climbed down from the stage to drag Mr. Hassan Habibi close to stage, threw him to the ground and beat him with a metal object that left him unconscious with brain trauma. Mr. Habibi carried a placard reading, “No to the mullahs, no to the Shah! No to the crown, no to the turban!” They also attacked a woman for chanting “Death to the oppressor, be it the Shah or Supreme Leader [Khamenei]!” There seemed to be no indication from the stage or crowd during or after this attack that anything unusual had happened, as the unconscious body of Habibi was carried off.
On social media, Reza’s Pahlavi’s followers swarm and intimidate those who oppose him. For example, the IG account @notopahlavi was forced to close their comments section after being flooded with vile threats and insults from monarchists/Pahlavi followers.
There have been reports on social media of numerous physical attacks, including stabbings and destruction of equipment, by pro-monarchist thugs against various leftist Iranians over the past months. All this is the reality on the ground behind the honeyed words of “UNITY, UNITY, UNITY,” which goes with “DON’T RAISE DIFFERENCES” (or else) coming from those around Reza Pahlavi, as well as confused or naïve forces.
It is very important and significant that a number of Iranian groups and individuals among Iranians living outside Iran (the diaspora) have raised and continue to raise condemnations and criticisms of the Shah and the Islamic Republic.
There should be universal condemnation of this violence and intimidation, across the political spectrum.
While Reza Pahlavi is not in power in Iran and cannot arrest protesters to make them political prisoners, this incident in Brussels portends dangers to political dissidents similar to those now imprisoned, beaten, tortured or killed by the IRI.
The SAVAK-like behavior of Reza Pahlavi’s staff reached a new low on February 20. In Brussels, Belgium, where more than 5,000 people, mostly Iranian diaspora, marched and rallied outside the EU Council, thugs in security armbands carried out a vicious attack on one protester. While Masih Alinejad was speaking on stage, these goons climbed down from the stage to drag Mr. Hassan Habibi close to stage, threw him to the ground and beat him with a metal object that left him unconscious with brain trauma. Mr. Habibi carried a placard reading, “No to the mullahs, no to the Shah! No to the crown, no to the turban!” They also attacked a woman for chanting “Death to the oppressor, be it the Shah or Supreme Leader [Khamenei]!” There seemed to be no indication from the stage or crowd during or after this attack that anything unusual had happened, as the unconscious body of Habibi was carried off.
On social media, Reza’s Pahlavi’s followers swarm and intimidate those who oppose him. For example, the IG account @notopahlavi was forced to close their comments section after being flooded with vile threats and insults from monarchists/Pahlavi followers.
There have been reports on social media of numerous physical attacks, including stabbings and destruction of equipment, by pro-monarchist thugs against various leftist Iranians over the past months. All this is the reality on the ground behind the honeyed words of “UNITY, UNITY, UNITY,” which goes with “DON’T RAISE DIFFERENCES” (or else) coming from those around Reza Pahlavi, as well as confused or naïve forces.
It is very important and significant that a number of Iranian groups and individuals among Iranians living outside Iran (the diaspora) have raised and continue to raise condemnations and criticisms of the Shah and the Islamic Republic.
There should be universal condemnation of this violence and intimidation, across the political spectrum.