The Islamic Republic has perpetuated 47 years of violence on the people of Iran, both in life and in death. Why does the regime fear its own people so profoundly that it would kill thousands, and imprison tens of thousands? There is some support for Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s former Shah, as an immediate alternative to the current regime. Iran’s future cannot be disentangled from broader global currents, including the rise of ethnonationalism and right-wing politics worldwide. And a group of Iranian feminists has issued a statement calling for sustained political pressure to immediately stop the killings and repression in Iran.

Source: The Irish Times January 17, 2026 10:41 UTC