Iran’s Rebellious Youth Respond To The Regime’s Repressive Measures – OpEd

In fear of an increasingly restive society and the growing traction of the Iranian Resistance, Iran’s regime has been resorting to an unprecedented wave of repressive measures. But the people of Iran have shown their determination to overthrow this regime through their actions against the regime’s centers of repression, and fundamentalism.

In the past week alone, rebellious youth have been targeting regime monuments, banners, and centers of repression across Iran. These activities are especially focused on IRGC and Basij bases. The Basij is the paramilitary arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) which is tasked with the repression of anti-regime protests. The regime has set up Basij bases in neighborhoods to spy on residents, identify dissidents, and crack down on demonstrations.

The rebellious youth targeted dozens of Basij bases. In Tehran, the youth targeted several Basij buildings by setting fire to the entrance signs and throwing Molotov cocktails at the buildings. The youths in Tehran also set fire to the entrance signs of the headquarters of State Security Forces, one of the main repressive forces involved in the crackdown on popular protests.

One of the key targets of these activities was an attack on the IRGC Aerospace command headquarters in Tehran. The Aerospace Command is one of four main IRGC forces and one of the main forces involved in spreading war and terrorism in the region. It is tasked with manufacturing drones and rockets. The IRGC Aerospace has been supplying the Quds Force with destructive weapons. It is also supplying the regime’s proxy forces in the region to spread war and mayhem.

Similar activities took place in major cities such as Mashhad, Qazvin, Kermanshah, Qom, Shiraz, Kerman, and Zahedan. In Qazvin, the rebellious youth set fire to the entrance of a Basij base. In Karaj, a large explosion was reported at the main Basij headquarters.

The rebellious youth also torched posters and banners of regime leaders and icons such as regime founder Ruhollah Khomeini, supreme leader Ali Khamenei, and the regime’s terror mastermind Qassem Soleimani. In Dezful, the rebellious youth set fire to a statue of Qassem Soleimani. In Zanjan, they set fire to a large banner with the photos of Khomeini and Khamenei.

Also targeted were the regime’s centers of fundamentalism, torture, and plunder, which have been tasked with looting the people’s wealth and handing out death sentences to the impoverished people of Iran.

These activities are taking place despite the regime’s extensive efforts to suppress any form of protest and dissent. Prominent among the regime’s measures is the sudden spike in executions, with at least 120 executions in November and 48 executions in the past two weeks. The regime has particularly ratcheted up the execution of political prisoners, especially protesters arrested during the 2019 and 2022 uprisings. The regime has also increased the implementation of death sentences against Baluch, Kurd, and Arab prisoners.

At the same time, the regime has been increasing its repressive measures against the relatives and supporters of the PMOI in order to prevent Iran’s youths from joining Iran’s main opposition in its struggle to overthrow the regime. In addition to the execution of PMOI supporters, the regime has been handing out heavy prison sentences to relatives and supporters of PMOI.

And to further cause terror in the public, the regime has set up a show trial against 104 PMOI members to set the stage for further executions and acts of terror against the Iranian Resistance and its supporters.

But as the actions of the rebellious youth show, no amount of repressive measures will dissuade the people of Iran will from their goal to overthrow the regime and establish a democratic republic.