Despite increased global attention, many American citizens remain unaware of the dehumanizing realities facing Iranian citizens today. 

Most recently, a major inflation problem in Iran caused basic goods to be extremely difficult for people to get. History teacher Ms. Cindy Collier explained how these economic issues have been a major cause of protests.

“It sounds like the people are protesting all over the country, actually, to try to bring down the regime. They don’t want a government run by religious leaders, but the bigger, recent protests are driven by their economy tanking,” said Ms. Collier.

Princess Farah Pahlavi is the daughter of Reza Pahlavi, the crowned prince of Iran, and granddaughter of the last ruling monarch. She attends the University of Michigan and agreed to do an interview with The Forest Scout on January 19th to expose the brutal conditions and systemic oppression that everyday Iranian citizens are enduring.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has killed at least 20,000 people in only three days of protests… Including kids as young as three years old,” said Princess Pahlavi. 

Prior to 1979, Iran was run by the Pahlavi Dynasty for more than 50 years The Iranian Revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini overthrew the Shah, who was criticized for close ties to the West Essentially the regime shifted from an authoritarian regime to a theocratic, authoritarian regime.

As a result, the Shah fled to the United States. Angry with this, the new Islamic Republic took 52 American citizens hostage for 444 days. The hostages were released minutes after President Ronald Reagan was sworn into office, with President Jimmy Carter negotiating the final deal.

Women in Iran have also been protesting for many years for their basic human rights, including their rights against the death penalty and violence. In public, women are legally required to cover their hair and wear modest clothing. Additionally, women cannot marry more than one man, but men are allowed to marry more than one woman, and they need legal permission from their husbands to do a lot of what we would consider “simple tasks.”  

In 2022, Masha Amini was arrested for wearing an “improper hijab.” She died as a result of a beating while in custody. She showed resistance and did not hide her hair like the women in Iran are instructed to do under Islamic Law, causing an uprising in protests for women’s rights as well.  

However, protesting in Iran is dangerous. In the United States, where we can freely exercise our First Amendment rights, it is difficult to grasp that people in Iran face the death penalty for protesting. Additionally, as a result of these outbursts against the state, the current regime in Iran had issued a full blackout. 

“The regime shut down the internet across the entire country, so there is no news media reporting anywhere besides their propaganda machines. There is no contacting your family to see if they’re alive or if they have made it home safely after a day of protesting, and it is just a complete blackout to silence the revolution. This is a tactic that they’ve used before,” said Princess Pahlavi. 

The only way of getting accurate news is from videos exported out of the country through StarLink, which is how the whole world has received fragments of media and the recent, true news.

Princess Pahlavi gave insight into how the Regime is importing terrorists and their military-grade weapons from the Iraqi Militia. 

“They steal the bodies after killing them and make the families pay for the actual bullet that was used to kill that person and their loved ones. So imagine having to pay for the bullet that killed your child,” said Princess Farah Pahlavi.“The number to pay has varied but is around $800 US dollars, and the rial currency has completely collapsed… To put that into perspective, it’s about two months’ rent in Tehran.”  

It is important for citizens of the U.S. to get a better idea of what is going on there because this is complete cruelty. Many Iranians seem to be taking matters of finding their family into their own hands. Pahlavi depicted the process that people must go through to get information.

“Regime forces are also attacking hospitals and the wounded, contributing to the stacks and stacks of body bags across the entire country. The Iranians have to go unzip them one by one to find their loved ones. A lot of the bodies are unidentifiable because most of them have been shot at close range, in the head or eyes,” said Princess Pahlavi. 

Currently, the US government is weighing the possibility of military action against Iran as tensions rise over Iran’s nuclear program. This decision carries consequences not only for regional stability, but also for millions of Iranian citizens living with economic strain, political repression, and a state of constant fear. 

What’s going on in Iran is a humanitarian crisis, and it is becoming nearly impossible for average citizens to be able to survive. With direct connection to the Iranian people, Princess Farah Pahlavi calls for citizens of the US around the world who aren’t directly affected to become aware of the brutality that Iranians are facing right now–and I share her conviction. 

“The civilians are still on the street and need our help, so everyone, if you are reading or hearing this, you should begin speaking out for Iran,” said Princess Pahlavi.