SAO PAULO: Many people in Latin America are demonstrating against Iran’s brutal crackdown in nationwide protests that began after the death in September of Mahsa Amini, 22, for allegedly wearing a hijab improperly by the country’s morality police. have been
Activists – especially women – marched and gathered in front of Iranian embassies, denouncing Tehran’s repression and human rights violations.
Demonstrations across Latin America have been prompted by the fact that hundreds of Iranians now face long prison sentences and even the death penalty for protesting.
In Mexico, for example, protesters gathered in front of the Iranian embassy in the country’s capital on 19 December.
Activist Paola Shietekat, who co-organized the protest, told Arab News, “The catalyst for the demonstration was the ongoing death sentence against footballer Amir Nasr-Azdani.”
But that was not the only reason, she said. “We were horrified by the large list of people currently facing the death penalty. The message the Iranian government wants to send is that citizens should not be afraid to express their political opinions.
So far, at least 100 people have been charged or sentenced to death, according to Human Rights Iran, a Norway-based NGO.
Feminist activists and Iranians living in Mexico held protests in the capital in September.
Shietekat said some Iran-born participants were identified by embassy surveillance cameras and later had problems renewing documents.
“Now, some of them were clearly afraid of retribution and preferred not to attend. It was important to them that we Mexicans showed our solidarity.”
Laura Vazquez, one of the protesters, told Arab News: “I heard about it on social media and decided I had to go. This is an important reason. Nowadays, people can easily ‘support’ a protest, but not be seen.
She said: “The most valuable thing was to be present and show our solidarity. The problems in Iran didn’t start in September. They are historical.
Mexico abstained from the UN vote that resulted in Iran’s removal from the organization’s women’s rights agency in December.
In Schietekat’s opinion, this was a grave mistake: “(The Mexican) government made its decision on the principle of non-intervention, but we cannot have diplomatic relations with a country that systematically violates human rights.”
He said there was a “disproportionate” police presence during the demonstration on 19 December, but no incidents occurred.
There have also been demonstrations in Argentina recently, but the most visible action coming from the country has been an online petition against Nasr-Azdani’s execution.
Created by Natalia Marcelino, the campaign has already garnered the support of 1.8 million people worldwide.
“I don’t have any particular experience about the political situation in Iran. I am a psychologist who manages a school for children with special needs. But I was deeply moved by the news and decided to do something,” she told Arab News.
“I was surprised by the overwhelming response to the petition. I’m glad to see we can come together and do something. Nasr-Azadani has defended Iranian women and now we need to help them.”
Several celebrities have publicly supported the petition, including Colombian-born singer Shakira, Argentine actor Ricardo Darín and Spanish musician Alejandro Sanz.
“I think the World Cup would have given more visibility to his case, given that people were more involved with football and he is a famous player,” Marcelino said.
Uruguayan footballer Luis Suárez and Colombian Radamel Falcao García were among professional athletes who expressed their solidarity with Nasr-Azdani.
A report published in 2021 by the Arab News Research and Studies Unit, titled “Border Wars: Iran’s Terror Refuge in Latin America”, stated that since the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the Islamic Republic has increased its relations with Latin American countries. Tried tirelessly to strengthen it. while also seeking political allies among the region’s leftist governments who shared their hostility towards the US.
The report highlighted the nature of political and economic cooperation between Iran and Paraguay, and analyzed the suspicious activities and operations of Iran and its proxies, such as Hezbollah, in the Tri-Border region in general and Paraguay in particular.
In the 1990s, a prominent Paraguayan political and religious figure, Fernando Lugo, made a historic visit to Iran, according to Dr. Hamdan al-Shehri, a political analyst, through his support for his successful presidential bid in 2008. Made a gesture from and international relations scholar.
“Nevertheless, diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries remained somewhat modest compared to Iran’s relations with other Latin American countries,” he wrote.
“However, in the years since becoming the target of international sanctions, Iran realized that it needed a haven for its illegal activities that was out of sight of the global community and immune from legal action.
“In some Latin American states, it found ideal staging grounds for its illegal operations, particularly within the so-called tri-border region of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. According to several investigations, Iranian activities in this border region are closely monitored.” ranging from drug and arms trafficking to money laundering and terrorist training.
Fast forward to the present and major political leaders in Latin America are condemning Iran’s repression. When Colombian President Gustavo Petro congratulated Argentina on their World Cup victory on Twitter on 18 December, he urged Iran not to execute the footballer.
Colombia has supported criticism of Iran in the international arena in the past few months.
Tehran formally complained to Colombia over its vote to expel Iran from the UN women’s rights agency.
In September, Chilean President Gabriel Boric condemned Iran for Amini’s death in his speech to the United Nations General Assembly.
The Chilean feminist movement has been following the events in Iran, and has organized several initiatives against the regime.
“We have solidarity ties with many women’s groups, including The Iranians. We have protested against Iran and produced videos about it with Farsi subtitles so they can see there that we are here to support them,” Xaviera Manzi, spokeswoman for the feminist group CF8M, told Arab News.
“We are now issuing a manifesto condemning the crackdown on protesters and gathering support from a number of human rights organizations.”
Mahmonir Nadeem, an Iranian-born singer living in Brazil since 2012, told Arab News: “Many people in Brazil say they don’t know enough about the Iranian situation so they can’t give an opinion.
“What else should they know when people are being arrested and killed for protesting against the government?”
Nadeem said that he had always dreamed of becoming an artist, but that it would be very difficult in Iran after the 1979 revolution. “That’s why I decided to come to Brazil.”
She and her sister organized a protest in Brazil in September, and are now planning another. They want more Brazilians to join them.
“The Brazilian media is not properly reflecting what is happening there, and Brazilians are far from that reality,” Nadim said, adding that several of his Iranian friends have been detained in recent months. “The people in Iran hope that we can be their voice. We have to help them.”