The Left’s Silence on Iran Is Shameful

Most of Western media, leftist politicians, and feminist organizations have been largely silent on the recent protests in Iran. Sadly, this was to be expected.

Iran has seen the biggest protests since 2009. What started out as demonstrations by provincial and working-class Iranians focused on economic issues have broadened into something much larger, more focused on the culture, and which have taken in students and more affluent members of Iranian society.

Protestors have been heard shouting “We don’t want an Islamic Republic,” “Death to the Revolutionary Guard,” and “No to reformers and conservatives alike.”

One would expect the GOP to be supportive of these protests, which they have been, with President Trump tweeting in support of the demonstrators. What is noticeable is the silence from large parts of the media, and most of the Western political establishment, particularly from the Left. One could explain away the reticence of those on the Right of the political spectrum where the protestors are concerned. After all, why give the theocrats more ammunition for their claims that the whole thing is an American/Zionist conspiracy designed to overthrow them, thus providing further justification in their eyes for the continuation of their fatal repressive measures?

The silence from the Left appears to be baffling, however. After all, isn’t the Left in favor of internationalism, of solidarity with the world’s workers and other oppressed people struggling against the stomping boot of tyranny? Aren’t they meant to take a stand on these things, grounded as they are in their principles of freedom and egalitarianism? One would think and hope that this would be the case.