Teachers' Group Blames Government For Student Deaths In Iran Bombing

On Saturday, Mohammad-Ali Keinezhad, the head of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution's recruitment department outlined a scoring system where “having one child is worth 5 points, two children accumulate 11 points, and being married adds 5 points.”

The revelation follows an October announcement by an Iranian member of parliament regarding plans to allocate thousands of hectares of land to families for building houses, as an incentive for childbirth. As part of a broader population growth initiative, 200,000 domestically produced cars were distributed to “eligible individuals,” prompting questions about the fairness of distribution.

Iran is grappling with a demographic shift from a youthful to an aging population, presenting challenges for the nation. The decline in childbirth rates in recent decades has worried the ruling regime. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has called for efforts to increase the population from 85 million to as high as 150 million. In response, the parliament passed a law encouraging marriage and childbirth while prohibiting family planning options in public health services.

Critics argue that the population policy falls short of addressing economic hardships, with nearly 50% of the population living below the poverty line. Despite holding multiple jobs, many Iranians face ongoing challenges, raising concerns about the broader impact of the initiatives on the country's socio-economic landscape.

Living in exile in Europe, Karimi became one of the influential voices during anti-regime protests in 2022, using his influence on social media to defend young women and men, who were facing heavily armed vigilante and security forces.

For years, soccer spectators have been loudly chanting his name in stadiums, despite the authorities' disdain for him. His messages prove remarkably effective and influential during critical moments, to the extent that state television hosts have officially insulted him, labeling him as dishonorable and unworthy.

As an example of his style, on January 3, Karimi posted a twelve-word Persian tweet and received 103,000 likes, more than most famous Western politicians can ever dream of. It simply said, “Have you ever seen an honorable and decent person support this regime? I haven’t seen one.”

Ali Karimi, as a social phenomenon, prompts three questions for observers of Iran: How did a soccer player emerge as the voice of opposition in a country where professional soccer is state-owned? Why can't the government simply ignore him? And what are the underlying themes of Karimi's messages that have elevated him to a position of greater influence than even the most renowned artists, politicians, and religious authorities in the country?

Message: expressing the feelings of the main streets

Let's begin with the last question. Ali Karimi has attained an intuitive grasp of conveying the sentiments of ordinary people on the streets, in bazaars, taxis, shops, barbershops, gatherings, and even at funerals. His messages mirror the conversations that take place among people in these everyday settings, resonating like precious gems in their hands. Millions of individuals share and transmit his messages among themselves. He adeptly seizes the moment, creating opportunities for dialogue or progression, and hands the metaphorical ball to the people, allowing them to take shots at the government's policies.

Karimi transmits his messages, often in very brief format, vis social media to people in Iran. The impact that his messages and posts by other activists have among the people is the reason why Iran had blocked almost all global social media platforms. Islamic Republic’s leaders, including its 84-year-old ruler Ali Khamenei detest the Internet and messaging apps mainly for this reason.

Upgrade to the voice of the voiceless

Over a span of 15 years, Ali Karimi evolved into a prominent advocate for the non-elite population in opposition to the government. During the waves of the Green Movement protests in 2009, he was among the players who sported green wristbands during a match against South Korea. Renowned for his dazzling dribbling skills, Karimi enjoys popularity among Iranians and stands as an emblematic figure in Asian soccer. He has harnessed his popularity to engage in charitable endeavors and express his political dissent.

Karimi gradually transformed from a national soccer star into an influential figure in the national public spotlight. His open criticism of Mohammad Javad Zarif's anti-Israel positions, the ban on women entering stadiums, the role of IRGC commanders in managing soccer in the country, the downing of the Ukrainian airliner in 2020, and the nationwide protests in 2019 gradually made him a civil and political activist.

Government’s concern

The substantial number of followers, reposts, and likes garnered by Karimi's messages in the digital realm, coupled with the fact that there are over 60 million smartphones in the hands of Iranians, has granted him a platform that the government cannot disregard. With the official state radio and television news website receiving approximately just 124,000 monthly visitors, it is evident that authorities are apprehensive about Ali Karimi's influence, and they cannot afford to overlook him. His exceptional reach has prompted the propaganda machinery and government officials to issue threats against him.

Reza Naqipour, deputy head of the presidential office and the former Head of Security of the Football Federation threatened Ali Karimi with the hashtag of "Ruhullah Zam" (journalist, kidnapped in 2019 by IRGC intelligence and executed in 2020). "One day you will return the way that we like, not the way you like!" which means the threat of kidnapping and execution.

This week, Iran’s state television tried to discredit Karimi for a tweet he posted on January 3, following a deadly twin bombing in Kerman, where around 90 people visiting the gravesite of Qasem Soleimani were killed. Karimi said, "Go for free food and drink, but you will get a hard revenge," referring to regime’s policy of feeding people who attend its events. But what officials do not understand is that people receive Karimi's messages directly from him and pay little attention to the government television. Tens of thousands on social media came to his support by posting comments or liking and re-posting other messages.

More than one hundred days into the current water year, nationwide rainfall remains unsatisfactory, with a 44.3% decrease compared to the long-term average.

In Tehran Province, there has been a staggering 67% reduction in precipitation compared to the long-term average for the current water year. The available water volume in the reservoirs of the five dams supplying water to Tehran Province has dropped to less than 300 million cubic meters, posing a significant risk given the current climatic conditions.

Mohsen Ardekani, CEO of Tehran Province Water and Wastewater Company, noted that despite meteorological predictions, this year's autumn rainfall in Tehran has fallen by 55%. He stressed the importance of effective demand and consumption management in securing Tehran's water supply. Ardekani urged citizens in Tehran to actively participate in water consumption management, calling for a 10% reduction in consumption and the avoidance of unnecessary usage to ensure a sustainable water supply in the province.

The persistent drought in Iran has led to criticism of the government's environmental mismanagement. Reports indicate that a quarter of Iran's farmers have lost their livelihoods in the past seven years due to water scarcity, resulting in economic impacts, soil erosion, desertification, and hazardous dust storms affecting approximately half of Iran's population, according to the country's health ministry.

Mina Khajavi was arrested in 2020, and the sentencing took place in 2022, involving two other individuals: Christian convert Malihe Nazari, who received a six-year sentence, and Iranian-Armenian pastor Joseph Shahbazian, sentenced to 10 years.

While Shahbazian and Nazari began serving their sentences a few months later, Khajavi was initially considered unfit for incarceration due to a car accident resulting in a severely broken ankle, necessitating the insertion of metal plates.

Despite enduring ongoing physical challenges, such as walking with a limp and developing arthritis, Khajavi was instructed on January 3, 2024, to report to Evin Prison within five days.

Both Shahbazian and Nazari, convicted on similar charges, secured early release. Shahbazian's sentence was initially reduced to two years by an appeal-court judge citing insufficient evidence under Article 498 of the Islamic Penal Code, related to organizing groups deemed a threat to national security. In September 2023, Shahbazian was fully pardoned and released. Nazari, freed earlier in 2023, reportedly gained her release due to her son's declining health, who was hospitalized with leukemia.

Activists are demanding the immediate and unconditional exoneration of Khajavi, who faces imprisonment solely based on her Christian faith. They are also urging Iran to cease the harassment of the Christian community and adhere to the November 2021 Supreme Court ruling that explicitly stated, "the promotion of Christianity and formation of a house-church is not criminalized in law" and should not be considered a threat to national security.

Biden asserted that the attack was conducted in line with national security and the foreign policy interests of the United States.

“I directed this military action consistent with my responsibility to protect United States citizens both at home and abroad and in furtherance of United States national security and foreign policy interests,” reads the statement from President Biden in his letter on Friday.

In response to the attacks, the Iraqi government declared that the justification for the presence of international coalition forces, led by the US, in the country has come to an end. President Biden, on January 5, emphasized Washington's preparedness for potential further actions.

The US targeted a logistical support center of the Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iranian-backed paramilitary group, in eastern Baghdad on Thursday, resulting in casualties.

The Iraqi Prime Minister's office held the US-led coalition responsible for the attack, asserting that targeting their headquarters weakens agreements and understandings with the coalition.

Amidst the ongoing Middle East conflict following the Israel-Hamas war that began on October 7, Iran's proxy forces in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have repeatedly targeted US and international interests, as retaliation for Washington’s support for Israel. The current Gaza conflict, initiated by unprecedented attacks by Hamas on Israel, resulted in more than 1,000 civilian casualties. In recent years, Iran-backed groups have carried out drone and missile attacks against American forces and international coalition forces stationed in Iraq and Syria.