{"id":305141,"date":"2023-04-03T00:51:16","date_gmt":"2023-04-02T23:51:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=305141"},"modified":"2023-04-03T00:51:16","modified_gmt":"2023-04-02T23:51:16","slug":"how-rejecting-any-form-of-a-tyranny-became-a-rallying-cry-in-irans-protests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/iran-protests\/how-rejecting-any-form-of-a-tyranny-became-a-rallying-cry-in-irans-protests\/","title":{"rendered":"How Rejecting Any Form of a Tyranny Became a Rallying Cry in Iran\u2019s Protests"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Iran_Nightly_Protests2023NCRI-min\"<\/p>\n

Seven months after the nationwide anti-regime uprising, the movement has proved to be a durable challenge to the Iranian regime. It poses a continuing existential threat to the ruling theocracy.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Iranian people want, once and for all, to get rid of the ruling theocracy; they are not opting for any reform or transition of power. Iranians are trying to end decades of misery caused by the mullahs. They have demonstrated their resolve for regime change in slogans such as, \u201cPoverty, corruption, high prices, we continue until [regime\u2019s] downfall.\u201d <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This uprising is unique in at least one aspect: The regime has run out of tactics to detract the uprising from its main course. In previous rounds of protests, the regime would try to use the supposed reformist-hardliner divide to lay the blame for the country\u2019s problems on one or the other faction. But the people have long moved past these charades with the slogan, \u201cReformists, hardliners, the game is over.\u201d The regime then tried to promote slogans in support of the ousted Shah dictatorship<\/a> in hopes of suppressing solutions that call for the establishment of a democratic state.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But that too has failed the regime. The latest movement is known for its anti-dictatorial characteristics, as demonstrated in people\u2019s slogans, rejecting both the current regime and the return to the ousted monarchy. These slogans include: \u201cDown with the oppressor, be it the Shah or mullahs,\u201d and \u201cNo monarchy, no [supreme] leader, democracy, equality.\u201d Iranian people want to establish a pluralistic, secular, and democratic republic after decades of tyranny.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In an article on its Telegram channel, the state-run Tahkim Melat outlet published an assessment of popular slogans and their origins. Tahkim Melat also referred to the controversial and selective coverage of these slogans by Persian-speaking news outlets and Television outside Iran. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnlike other movements in 2018 and 2019, the academic, scholarly, knowledgeable, and enlightened part of the society was the denominator of this [uprising]. Thus, the slogans had profound meanings,\u201d it wrote. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is worth considering is the absence of slogans in favor of the monarchy, such as \u2018Bless Reza Shah\u2019s soul,\u2019 or \u2018A country without a king is in chaos,\u2019 despite the Persian-speaking TVs propaganda and efforts to spread these slogans,\u201d the outlet acknowledged, adding that \u201con the contrary, slogans such as \u2018monarchy, supreme leader, a century of crime,\u2019 \u2018Down with the oppressor, be it the Shah or the [Supreme] Leader,\u2019 and \u2018No monarchy, no [supreme] leader, democracy, equality\u2019 echoed throughout society and were welcomed by people.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The outlet acknowledges that the considerable increase and repetition of the aforementioned slogans \u201cindicate their rising popularity and the prospect of becoming one of the most important and strategic slogans of this movement.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The outlet admits that the slogan of \u201cNo monarchy, no [supreme] leader, democracy, equality\u201d has been exceptionally effective for several reasons: <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n