Every uprising and revolution is characterized by its popular slogans. These short phrases, echoed by people, reflect a nation’s desire and goal in the shortest term possible. The major Iran protests, which many consider having morphed into a revolution, feature some unique slogans reflecting the Iranian people’s demand and determination.
On Monday, university students in Tehran said, “Now is no time for sorrow; it is time for rage.”
They shouted these calls while regime security forces attacked them and other university students who continued their demonstrations on the 46th day of Iran’s uprising, and so far, over 450 Iranians have been killed by the regime.
November 2 – Tabriz, northwest #Iran
Locals are gathering to mark the 40th day of Hadith Najafi being murdered by the regime's oppressive security forces. #IranRevolution2022#آزادی_آزادی_آزادیpic.twitter.com/DWhXpqRQnM— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 2, 2022
Besides, protests by university students continued a day after Hossein Salami, the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) commander, showed teeth, trying to intimidate people and prevent them from continuing their demonstrations.
“Today is the last day of protests” and warned protesters not to come onto the streets,” he said in a state-staged rally in Shiraz.
Salami also referred to the role of the Iranian opposition, Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), and how it has impacted Iranian society. “Dear university students, listen, we cannot tolerate actions beyond [the regime’s] framework. Do you want to attain power with the criminal hypocrites [MEK] who betrayed this nation? Open your eyes and stand with the [regime],” he blatantly said.
Salami’s threats were accompanied by wide arrests of students in many universities and the regime’s hoodlums presenting themselves as professors or students attacking unarmed students. Despite its violent attempts, Iran’s ruling theocracy failed to quell the restive society, and protests broke out across Iran. Brave university students, who have been acting as trailblazers of this uprising, clashed with security forces in dozens of universities. They defied the clerical regime by chanting slogans such as “death to the dictator” and “Now is no time for sorrow; it is time for rage.”
Despite crackdown & threats univ. & high school students in Tehran, Sanandaj, Mashhad, Qazvin, Yazd, Isfahan, Tabriz & elsewhere came to the scene with chants of “death to the dictator,” “Freedom,” “Imprisoned students must be freed.” This hurricane will continue until victory. pic.twitter.com/9paNwpOEK5
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) November 2, 2022
By emphasizing that it is time to fight against the regime, university students rejected the regime’s talking points that this uprising is leaderless and youth are acting on emotions. In fact, they showed their determination to continue this struggle despite the possibility of arrest, torture, and death.
The regime and its apologists have also tried to sell the idea that there is no viable alternative to the current ruling theocracy and that people should revert to the past and accept the monarchy dictatorship or the current clerical regime.
Besides many other factors that deny this bogus claim, such as the leading role of the MEK’s Resistance Units in the current uprising- as confirmed by regime officials- the Iranian university students have rejected any form of dictatorship by continuously chanting “Down with the oppressor, be it the Shah or the Supreme Leader.
In a nutshell, the Iranians’ bravery has laid bare the regime’s weakness in oppressing the revolution in the making, and as Iranians have been chanting across the country, “Whenever someone falls, thousands will rise up.”
October 31 – Tehran, #Iran
High school students protesting and chanting:
"For each one you kill another thousand will rise!"#IranRevolution#آزادی_آزادی_آزادی pic.twitter.com/ef5C2oNuVb— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) October 31, 2022
IRGC Brigadier General Ismail Kothari, acting as one of the regime’s MPs, told the state TV on October 27, “we told some of these arrestees that we want to hand you over to your parents. They said we don’t want your amnesty. Seek one for yourself, as you won’t be in power for long.”
The incessant protests and the Iranian people’s steadfastness in their goal of having a free and democratic country have amazed the world community. Many Western democracies have supported their bravery. But these vocal supports would not stop the regime’s brutality. Iran’s clerical regime has been continuing its killing spree. In a country where a mass murderer like Ebrahim Raisi is selected as president, asking the government to stop its violence is more irrelevant and futile than demanding an arsonist to put out the fire. The only way to end the current crisis of impunity in Iran and effectively help Iranians is to recognize their right to self-defense. Condemnations and statements of solidarity are important, but they should be complemented by a firm and concrete actions on the part of the Western government, particularly ending the culture of impunity the regime has enjoyed so far.
#Iran
The regime's oppressive security forces are seen manhandling a young woman.
This is in public. God knows what they do in their prisons.#IranRevolution2022#آزادی_آزادی_آزادی pic.twitter.com/1BcNC9UBl2— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 1, 2022
Tehran, #Iran
A large number of the regime's oppressive security forces in Naziabad district are seen brutally attacking a local.#IranRevolution2022#آزادی_آزادی_آزادیpic.twitter.com/caE7ofbIK2— People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) November 1, 2022