January 13, 2026 by richardkemp
Tomorrow some young people will die in Iran. Many have already died in what has largely, on their side, been peaceful and joyous demonstrations against the totalitarian theocratic regime which ahs ruled that benighted country since the downfall of the Shah. However, what was peaceful and joyous on their side has been met with thuggery, bullets, and bullying by the regime now fearful for its survival.
These young people are not looking for anything special. Just to live their lives as young people in most Westerns, and for that matter Eastern Countries live. They want to dress as they want to, enjoy the music they want to and take the education which will allow them and their Country to prosper. Tomorrow some of the 100 youngsters who have been snatched from the crowds will be executed after morning prayers. Their trials were short and the verdicts inevitable. They were protesting not against the Moslem faith but the way that the faith and political processes have combined into a right wing and fascistic dictatorship.
They are not the first to be killed but hopefully they will be amongst the last. The uprising against the regime has been huge and not just composed of students and young people but traders, business people and even, at last, some of the people behind the repressive state machinery. It follows on from riots four years ago when another young girl was killed by the morality police for having hair coming out of her garb. That peaceful uprising too was dealt with repression by an evil state.
In the early days of the current disturbances a young woman, Rubina Aminian, was shot in the back of the head. She had not even reached the demonstrations but was on her way to join her mates. That was enough to guarantee death from some vengeful man. A lovely, vivacious, intelligent and committed student shot because those in power wanted to suppress her beliefs.
You might ask why should I care? Why should I blog about it? It is not my country, and they are not my people. The latter of these is not true. They are my people. Young people who want to lead a good and fulfilling life who can contribute so much to the world. To see their exuberance as they have taken off their hijabs and stood dressed as they want to be seen and mingling with people they want to be with lifted my heart, the same heart that is filled with anguish at the thought of those executions tomorrow.
But the other reason that we should care is because Iran has been the breeding ground for extremism that has shot not only across the Middle East but has struck hard in Western Democracies. It has done much to poison the views of many against those of the Moslem faith. Most of such adherents are no different in spirit to those that worship in Christian churches, Temples and Gurdwaras. They believe in their own religion but do not see other people having different religious beliefs as a threat to their own.
To take that further there are many examples in Liverpool of people of faith coming together to deal with issues that are common not only to their faiths but all the people of Liverpool. From ‘Indian’ restaurants opening to feed the lonely and homeless free of charge on Christmas day to positive acts of faith where they proclaim that what unites them is far bigger and more important than what divides them. So, Iran has sent thugs and the fear of thugs throughout the World. They have gravely distorted the view of many of the peaceful Moslems who live in our Country and have the UK their home. What they are doing is affecting my city, my country and our world.
Knowing precisely what to do is way above my political pay grade. I suspect that elements of force are inevitable. The way forward must be agreed by countries and people of good will. We must take financial action which affects the leaders of the regime although that is difficult without affecting ordinary people. We must cut off the supply of arms to the regime which makes repression possible. We must provide practical support to those who have successfully fled the regime so that they can prosper in the West and then go home as many Syrians have done since the fall of the regime there.
What we can all do is pour out our love and hope to the young people who are facing terror at a level that most of the readers of this blog have never seen. We must be prepared to put our own cash into a rebuilding programme when the mad Mullahs are removed as they surely will be. We must encourage our Governments to help repair the fabric of the country. We must encourage the private sector to go back into Iran and invest there as they can do so in ways they will help both them and the people of Iran prosper.
Roman Gladiators would say as they went to fight for their lives in the Arena, “We who are about to die salute you”
There will be no salutations in the sordid death chambers of the regime. Death will be slow and painful and certain. But we can say, “We salute those who are about to die”. We must then commit ourselves to remember them at a time when many parts of the world are suffering so many horrors. Remember them, keep their names cherished, and vow to help rebuild their country in their name.
You can continue to keep in touch with what is happening in Iran at Home – Communication and Education Centre