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| Mehsa Mehdili |
Mahsa Mehdili emphasizes the significance of Iranian universities once again becoming the center of anti-government protests.
Speaking to Voice of America, the political analyst assessed the widespread protests across various cities in Iran, sparked by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shooting down a Ukrainian passenger plane.
"In these latest protests, we saw that university students took the lead, raising very sharp and bold slogans. The fact that universities are at the forefront is important in this regard. Especially when the educated and intellectual youth stand with the people, history has shown that society as a whole can mobilize more powerfully."
According to the political activist, "Another distinctive feature of these protests is that when we look at the slogans and banners, we see that the primary target is Khamenei himself. Of course, Khamenei has been criticized before, but this time, his political and religious position is being widely challenged, with calls for his removal."
Mahsa Mehdili believes that the revelation that Iran had shot down a plane carrying 176 passengers has had a profound impact, even on those who were previously indifferent to political events.
"The government tried to turn Soleimani’s assassination into political propaganda. They attempted to create an anti-imperialist image abroad while forging unity among different factions within the country. However, after the plane was shot down, we saw that even the previously apathetic and undecided segments of society were deeply affected. The nature of the slogans also escalated, now directly opposing Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, and even rejecting the foundation of the Islamic Republic itself," says the activist.
Mahsa Mehdili also shared her views with Voice of America on the stance taken by various opposition groups in Iran following Qasem Soleimani’s assassination.
"There is a Tehran-centered opposition in Iran, and then there are national groups, including Turks, Kurds, Arabs, and Balochs. While the Tehran-based opposition is against the government, it still holds an Iran-centric vision, seeking Iran’s dominance in the region. Some within this opposition even believe in the superiority of their ethnicity. On the issue of Qasem Soleimani, these groups found common ground with the regime… However, Azerbaijan operates as a Tabriz-centered movement. In fact, I would even say that Turks from other regions are now also aligning with the Azerbaijan-centered and Tabriz-centered movement," the political activist adds.
Link to the original interview in Turkish on the Azerbaijani section of Voice of America:
Məhsa Mehdili: İrandakı etirazlarda tələbələr yenə öndədir