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UPDATE: 8:30 PM CET
Controversy Erupts Among Regime Insiders Over the ‘University Purification’ Efforts
With universities set to reopen and the anniversary of the uprising approaching, the recent trend of professors being expelled by the oppressive clerical regime and replacing them with elements loyal to the ruling establishment has heightened concerns among insiders about a potential clash with society.
Ebrahim Azadegan, a state-affiliated expert, remarked on August 30, “The universities in the country are in their final stages of decline, and the academic essence of these institutions is facing a significant risk… We need to understand that our internal situation is leading us towards destruction.”
Hamidreza Jalali-Pour, former governor of Naghadeh, stated, “The game of expelling professors is a lose-lose game. The situation is worse than the Ahmadinejad era.”
Ali Ghanbari, another state-affiliated expert warned, “The effort to homogenize universities originates from the mindset that began some time ago with the country’s administrations, organizations, and official institutions. The mindset dictates everyone should think in a way desirable to a specific political line. In such circumstances, we will soon witness the migration of high school students or diploma holders to universities in neighboring countries.”
Conversely, individuals associated with the ruling faction have come forward to support this repressive action. Mohammad Salehi, a member of the regime’s parliament, unabashedly endorsed the expulsion of university professors and stated, “We shouldn’t retain elites in the country if they’re going to do whatever they want. Individuals with such stances against the system are also against the people.”
Hossein Shariatmadari, the editor-in-chief of the Kayhan newspaper, which follows editorial guidelines from the Supreme Leader’s office, defended the widespread expulsion of professors. He remarked, “These so-called professors haven’t just backed disturbances; they’ve openly collaborated and allied themselves with those causing disruptions.”
More Protests on Thursday in Iran
On August 31, the lawyers from the Kurdistan Bar Association in Sanandaj organized a protest. The protesters were expressing their dissatisfaction with the recent rulings of the Expediency Discernment Council concerning the incorporation of the Bar Association under the Ministry of Economy. These protesting lawyers held up signs and banners to voice their concerns about how this decision, made within the regime’s parliament, threatens the autonomy of lawyers and the integrity of the legal profession.
Iranian Regime on Edge as Protest Anniversary Looms
As Iran edges closer to the anniversary of the September 2022 uprisings laden with historic significance, the regime faces an unsettling reality: the prospect of renewed massive street protests reminiscent of the seismic upheavals of September 2022. Within Tehran’s inner sanctums of power and among its suppressive forces, an uneasy apprehension looms. Against this backdrop, an intricate web of orchestrated actions and narratives by the Iranian regime against its principal opposition is captivating global attention. The regime’s strategic orchestration of these narratives unveils a profound storyline—one that crumbles under the weight of scrutiny, exposing the regime’s underlying vulnerability and growing desperation.
UPDATE: 5:00 PM CET
Thursday Protests in Iran
Today, August 31, machinery workers in a factory in Arak continued their strike for the 18th consecutive day. According to reports published on social media, the protesters laid down their work in various sectors, namely the assembly, construction, and equipment of metallurgical boilers. Protesters have declared that if the workers are not paid their salaries, the strike will continue and they will march toward the capital, Tehran. About 1,700 workers are working in this complex on an official contract and supply basis, and yet they are deprived of job security.
UPDATE: 4:00 PM CET
Canada—August 26-27, 2023: MEK Supporters Rallied in Ottawa, Vancouver, and Montreal, in Support of the Iran Revolution
Canada, August 26-27, 2023: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) rallied in Ottawa, Vancouver, and Montreal in support of the Iran Revolution against the religious dictatorship ruling Iran.
Oslo, Norway – August 26, 2023: MEK Supporters Held a Rally in Support of the Iran Revolution
Oslo, Norway—August 26, 2023: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a rally in front of the Norwegian Parliament in solidarity with the Iran Revolution.
Brussels—August 26, 2023: MEK Supporters Held a Photo Exhibition in Support of the Iran Revolution
Brussels, Belgium—August 26, 2023: Freedom-loving Iranians and supporters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) held a photo exhibition of the Iranian uprising’s martyrs in solidarity with the Iran Revolution.
UPDATE: 8:00 AM CET
Iran’s Regime Continues To Raise Pressure on Political Prisoners, Activists
As Iran prepares to mark the first anniversary of the nationwide protests that began in September 2022, the regime is frantically trying to clamp down on any form of dissent and prevent protests from taking place. Among the main efforts of the regime are actions against known sympathizers of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) and the relatives of PMOI members. One recent example is the regime’s obstruction in the release of political prisoner Maryam Akbari Monfared, who is approaching the end of her original 15-year sentence. Akbari Monfared was arrested in 2009 and has seen her 15-year sentence extended by an additional two years, along with a fine of 150 million rials, as part of a new, in-absentia ruling issued by Branch 101 of Semnan Criminal Court. Shockingly, during her entire 14-year incarceration, she has not been granted a single day of furlough for medical treatment.
Iran’s Regime Can’t Regain The People’s Trust By Lying About The Economy
In a conversation with Mohammad Reza Khabaz, a former member of Iran regime’s parliament, the state media outlet Arman Melli wrote, “During the early days of the revolution, the connection between the people and the government was as strong as a rope. However, gradually due to certain behaviors, this bond weakened and turned into a mere thread.”
The reason behind this growing distance between the people and the regime lies in the corrupt practices of this dangerous regime’s rulers, who have seized control of all governmental institutions for personal gain. Consequently, they have trapped the populace in a cycle of poverty. Moreover, the distressing reality is that numerous young individuals are executed every day. Under such a corrupt regime, individuals with deceptive intentions often assume power, luring the public with enticing promises and slogans. Yet, once they ascend to positions of authority, their pledges are conveniently forgotten.
60% Of Iran Affected by Dust and Sand Pollution
Iran’s Ham-Mihan newspaper reported on August 27 that an “unprecedented event” has caused 60 percent of Iran’s territory to be affected by various intensities of dust and particulate matter. Following the onslaught of dust and particulate matter in some areas of northern and northeastern Iran, which began on Friday, August 26, some regime officials stated that the source was the Turkmenistan Desert. However, some experts refute this and attribute the cause to the drying up of internal wetlands. In recent days, domestic outlets and social media users have shared images of the dust storm impact in the eastern part of Mazandaran province, northern Iran, Gorgan, and northern regions of Khorasan province. Some residents have described this phenomenon as “unprecedented” in these areas, while others have likened it to the dust storms in Sistan and Baluchestan province.
Also, read Iran News in Brief – August 30, 2023