Protests hit multiple cities in Iran for the first time in weeks
NBC
The Facts
The Norway-based Iran Human Rights and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty published a report on Thursday claiming that Iran's "execution machine" hanged 75% more people in 2022 than in previous years.
There were at least 582 executions in 2022, reportedly the highest since 2015 and well above to 333 hangings reported in 2021.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The brutality of Iran's autocratic leaders in stifling dissent knows no bounds, as Iranians are being slaughtered in their quest for freedom from the Middle East's most ruthless regime. These protesters deserve the world's support, as human rights are being weaponized in the country.
Establishment-critical narrative
Though the West prefers to hype Iran's executions, it deliberately ignores the fact that Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei recently pardoned 90k people to mark the 44th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Western-backed rioters tried to set Iran on fire, but, thankfully, they failed, as Iran has implemented strict but fair enforcement of the rule of law.
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