Amir Hossein Hatami, a government protestor and young musician was hanged today by Iran.

This is his song which has become a protest anthem. I hope his death means something. End capital punishment everywhere!

55 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Amir Hossein Hatami, a government protestor and young musician was hanged today by Iran.

This is his song which has become a protest anthem. I hope his death means something. End capital punishment everywhere!

I stand with the Iranian Government.

So called "peaceful protestors" were armed, violent, and were killing Iranians including police and civilians on the street. Yes, after Scott Bennet tanked the Rial, there we peaceful protests. And then the next day, armed protestors hit the streets and began the chaos. Some of those arms were supplied by the Trump Administration.
Trump:
"We sent guns, a lot of guns. They were supposed to go to the people so they could fight back against these thugs... The people that they sent them to kept them, because they said 'what a beautiful gun, I think I'll keep it'... So I'm very upset with a certain group of people, and they're gonna pay a big price for that."
https://www.timesofisrael.com/im-very-upset-trump-says-us-tried-to-arm-iranian-protesters-but-guns-were-diverted/

In this kid's case:
"According to Iran's judiciary, via its Mizan News Agency, Hatami was one of seven defendants accused in connection with an attack on a "classified military center" or Basij paramilitary base in Tehran. Prosecutors claimed he and others broke in, vandalized the site, set it on fire, and tried to seize weapons and ammunition. They alleged this was done with the intent to overthrow the regime and that it constituted "moharebeh" (waging war against God) and "corruption on earth"—capital offenses under Iranian law. The judiciary also stated he acted "against national security" on behalf of foreign powers like the United States and Israel. Hatami reportedly confessed during interrogation, with parts of it aired on state television."
France 24

Playing devil's advocate, if you broke into a "classified military center" in the United States, grabbed weapons and ammo, and set the location on fire, and possible were responsible for the deaths of Iranian military or police, what do you think the United States could do to you? Or, if you received a shipment of Chinese or Russian weapons and the Chinese and Russian government urged you to "take back your country", how do you think that would work out?

What do you think the United States would do to people convicted of attempting to violently overthrowing the US government. Just look at what happened to the people who were convicted of "parading" in the Capital on Jan 6th. If those protestors where armed and shooting police and army members, really, do you think the US government would give them a cookie and a pat on the head and a time out in the corner. The US CAN executes for that.

What could you be charged with?
Core Charges (Regardless of Loss of Life)

Seditious Conspiracy — 18 U.S.C. § 2384

Arson / Malicious Damage or Destruction of Government Property by Fire or Explosive — 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)

Willful Injury, Depredation, or Destruction of Government Property — 18 U.S.C. § 1361

Conspiracy to Commit Offenses Against the United States — 18 U.S.C. § 371

Theft or Attempted Theft of Government Property — 18 U.S.C. § 641

Unlawful Entry onto Military Installation — 18 U.S.C. § 1382

Additional/Enhancing Charges (Commonly Applicable)

Use or Carrying of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence — 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)

Assault on Federal Officers or Employees — 18 U.S.C. § 111

Charges Where Loss of Life Occurred

Arson Resulting in Death — 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)(3) (death penalty eligible or life imprisonment)

First-Degree Murder / Felony Murder — 18 U.S.C. § 1111 (death penalty or life imprisonment possible)

Manslaughter — 18 U.S.C. § 1112

Conspiracy to Commit Murder — 18 U.S.C. § 1117

Use of Explosive or Weapon of Mass Destruction Resulting in Death — 18 U.S.C. § 2332a (death penalty eligible)

Treason — 18 U.S.C. § 2381 (death penalty possible in qualifying cases)

Charges Where Loss of Life Occurred that CAN carry the Death Penalty in the US

• Arson Resulting in Death (§ 844(f)(3)) → death penalty or 20 years to life

• First-Degree Murder / Felony Murder (§ 1111) → death or life

• Manslaughter (§ 1112) → no (max 15/8 years)

• Conspiracy to Commit Murder (§ 1117) → any term of years or life; no death penalty

• Use of Explosive/WMD Resulting in Death (§ 2332a) → death or any term of years/life

• Treason (§ 2381) → death or minimum 5 years + fine
  
  
  And also, why no music videos and angst over executions in Saudi Arabia - example:
  March 2022: Saudi Arabia executed 81 people in one day (its largest known mass execution in modern history), many convicted of "terrorism" involving killings of civilians and security forces, targeting government personnel, and attacks on vital economic sites. This surpassed the 1980 execution of 63 militants who seized the Grand Mosque in Mecca (a direct armed takeover of a highly sensitive site). https://www.npr.org/2022/03/12/1086280204/saudi-arabia-carries-out-its-largest-known-execution-in-the-kingdoms-modern-hist
  Why? Saudi Arabia is the United State's "friend" so no one complains when the execute people for pretty much the same offenses. Saudi Arabia is OUR repressive regime and the friend of the US.
  
  Just realize that there is a massive information war on now to discredit everything about Iran. The video above is just part of the information war. And it works - you posted it.

  By the way, you didn't include any context after dropping that video to explain WHY the kid got hung. I just did that for you.
  

15 minutes ago, nick supreme said:

I stand with the Iranian Government.

Excuse me while I vomit.

Well, anyway, the Iranian regime did win this war of choice from Trump, so happy times, huh?

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Excuse me while I vomit.

Well, anyway, the Iranian regime did win this war of choice from Trump, so happy times, huh?

A victory against the West is a victory against White Supremacy.

4 minutes ago, nick supreme said:

A victory against the West is a victory against White Supremacy.

Do you have a personal agenda against White people ?

26 minutes ago, nick supreme said:

A victory against the West is a victory against White Supremacy.

Persians are Caucasians.

Oops!

35 minutes ago, connda said:

So called "peaceful protestors" were armed, violent, and were killing Iranians including police and civilians on the street. Yes, after Scott Bennet tanked the Rial, there we peaceful protests. And then the next day, armed protestors hit the streets and began the chaos. Some of those arms were supplied by the Trump Administration.
Trump:
"We sent guns, a lot of guns. They were supposed to go to the people so they could fight back against these thugs... The people that they sent them to kept them, because they said 'what a beautiful gun, I think I'll keep it'... So I'm very upset with a certain group of people, and they're gonna pay a big price for that."
https://www.timesofisrael.com/im-very-upset-trump-says-us-tried-to-arm-iranian-protesters-but-guns-were-diverted/

In this kid's case:
"According to Iran's judiciary, via its Mizan News Agency, Hatami was one of seven defendants accused in connection with an attack on a "classified military center" or Basij paramilitary base in Tehran. Prosecutors claimed he and others broke in, vandalized the site, set it on fire, and tried to seize weapons and ammunition. They alleged this was done with the intent to overthrow the regime and that it constituted "moharebeh" (waging war against God) and "corruption on earth"—capital offenses under Iranian law. The judiciary also stated he acted "against national security" on behalf of foreign powers like the United States and Israel. Hatami reportedly confessed during interrogation, with parts of it aired on state television."
France 24

Playing devil's advocate, if you broke into a "classified military center" in the United States, grabbed weapons and ammo, and set the location on fire, and possible were responsible for the deaths of Iranian military or police, what do you think the United States could do to you? Or, if you received a shipment of Chinese or Russian weapons and the Chinese and Russian government urged you to "take back your country", how do you think that would work out?

What do you think the United States would do to people convicted of attempting to violently overthrowing the US government. Just look at what happened to the people who were convicted of "parading" in the Capital on Jan 6th. If those protestors where armed and shooting police and army members, really, do you think the US government would give them a cookie and a pat on the head and a time out in the corner. The US CAN executes for that.

What could you be charged with?
Core Charges (Regardless of Loss of Life)

Seditious Conspiracy — 18 U.S.C. § 2384

Arson / Malicious Damage or Destruction of Government Property by Fire or Explosive — 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)

Willful Injury, Depredation, or Destruction of Government Property — 18 U.S.C. § 1361

Conspiracy to Commit Offenses Against the United States — 18 U.S.C. § 371

Theft or Attempted Theft of Government Property — 18 U.S.C. § 641

Unlawful Entry onto Military Installation — 18 U.S.C. § 1382

Additional/Enhancing Charges (Commonly Applicable)

Use or Carrying of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence — 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)

Assault on Federal Officers or Employees — 18 U.S.C. § 111

Charges Where Loss of Life Occurred

Arson Resulting in Death — 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)(3) (death penalty eligible or life imprisonment)

First-Degree Murder / Felony Murder — 18 U.S.C. § 1111 (death penalty or life imprisonment possible)

Manslaughter — 18 U.S.C. § 1112

Conspiracy to Commit Murder — 18 U.S.C. § 1117

Use of Explosive or Weapon of Mass Destruction Resulting in Death — 18 U.S.C. § 2332a (death penalty eligible)

Treason — 18 U.S.C. § 2381 (death penalty possible in qualifying cases)

Charges Where Loss of Life Occurred that CAN carry the Death Penalty in the US

• Arson Resulting in Death (§ 844(f)(3)) → death penalty or 20 years to life

• First-Degree Murder / Felony Murder (§ 1111) → death or life

• Manslaughter (§ 1112) → no (max 15/8 years)

• Conspiracy to Commit Murder (§ 1117) → any term of years or life; no death penalty

• Use of Explosive/WMD Resulting in Death (§ 2332a) → death or any term of years/life

• Treason (§ 2381) → death or minimum 5 years + fine
  
  
  And also, why no music videos and angst over executions in Saudi Arabia - example:
  March 2022: Saudi Arabia executed 81 people in one day (its largest known mass execution in modern history), many convicted of "terrorism" involving killings of civilians and security forces, targeting government personnel, and attacks on vital economic sites. This surpassed the 1980 execution of 63 militants who seized the Grand Mosque in Mecca (a direct armed takeover of a highly sensitive site). https://www.npr.org/2022/03/12/1086280204/saudi-arabia-carries-out-its-largest-known-execution-in-the-kingdoms-modern-hist
  Why? Saudi Arabia is the United State's "friend" so no one complains when the execute people for pretty much the same offenses. Saudi Arabia is OUR repressive regime and the friend of the US.
  
  Just realize that there is a massive information war on now to discredit everything about Iran. The video above is just part of the information war. And it works - you posted it.

  By the way, you didn't include any context after dropping that video to explain WHY the kid got hung. I just did that for you.
  

I'm wondering if you knew about what the Jews in Poland did when they hoarded them into the Warsaw ghetto. They stole and acquired guns to fight back against that Nazi regime. Why did they fight back? Because their people were being herded into camps and slaughtered.

This is a little different, as the protestors here have been trying to change the regime and when they did that, they were executed. Not by millions (so far) but in the thousands. So they acquired guns to fight back.

The regime might consider it waging war against God and corruption on earth but of course they would say that, as that's their way of control over the people. You talk, you die. Quite different than the US, where you can say most anything besides a threat, and nothing can be done against you. There are many that dislike some things the US government does, but I haven't seen them trying to overthrow the government. Why? Because it does help it's people in many ways, and you can protest and not die for it.

I'm still thinking many here aren't aware what has actually gone on there, but you can see this rather easily by looking at a lot of videos Iran's people all over the world are making, along with the others made by newscasters and the public, as they know more about what living there is like than anyone else. They still have family and friends enduring what the regime is doing and has done.

33 minutes ago, nick supreme said:

A victory against the West is a victory against White Supremacy.

A victory against the west would be a free for all for the terrorists to attack anyone they want. You beat the US military, you can beat anyone. Of course it'll never happen.

8 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Persians are Caucasians.

Oops!

Not sure about that, and a bit relative. Yea, I had to Google that one ... as the Iranian guy I had a good chit chat with, was far from what I'd consider 'white'

43 minutes ago, nick supreme said:

A victory against the West is a victory against White Supremacy.

I know you are a professional troll but I'll bite. The US has been responisble for 10s of millions of dead through war and consequential societal damage as a result of those wars most often prosecuted for economic reasons wrapped up in high sounding democratic principles and touting "freedom". At least Trump has stopped this crap and says the quite bit out loud. Most yanks living high off the hog in Thailand are profiting from that holocaust of human souls , mostly brown faced as they flex their liberal consciences and hand wringing homilies. Iran resisting this hegemony is to be celebrated but it's human rights not so ,which are pretty much Saudi Arabian in their barbarity. Which isn't critcized so much as they are an "ally".

2 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

End capital punishment everywhere!

2 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

End capital punishment everywhere!

I say bring it on ASAP, not for the 18yo types fighting for freedom but murderer's etc. Paying tax so murderer's are looked after in prison is plain wrong

2 hours ago, nick supreme said:

I stand with the Iranian Government.

Its truly remarkable you were the strongest swimmer your father had.

Perhaps you should move to Iran and offer your direct support to the Velayat-e Faqih.

1 hour ago, nick supreme said:

A victory against the West is a victory against White Supremacy.

When it comes to thinking you are clearly traveling very light...

2 hours ago, connda said:

So called "peaceful protestors" were armed, violent, and were killing Iranians including police and civilians on the street. Yes, after Scott Bennet tanked the Rial, there we peaceful protests. And then the next day, armed protestors hit the streets and began the chaos. Some of those arms were supplied by the Trump Administration.
Trump:
"We sent guns, a lot of guns. They were supposed to go to the people so they could fight back against these thugs... The people that they sent them to kept them, because they said 'what a beautiful gun, I think I'll keep it'... So I'm very upset with a certain group of people, and they're gonna pay a big price for that."
https://www.timesofisrael.com/im-very-upset-trump-says-us-tried-to-arm-iranian-protesters-but-guns-were-diverted/

In this kid's case:
"According to Iran's judiciary, via its Mizan News Agency, Hatami was one of seven defendants accused in connection with an attack on a "classified military center" or Basij paramilitary base in Tehran. Prosecutors claimed he and others broke in, vandalized the site, set it on fire, and tried to seize weapons and ammunition. They alleged this was done with the intent to overthrow the regime and that it constituted "moharebeh" (waging war against God) and "corruption on earth"—capital offenses under Iranian law. The judiciary also stated he acted "against national security" on behalf of foreign powers like the United States and Israel. Hatami reportedly confessed during interrogation, with parts of it aired on state television."
France 24

Playing devil's advocate, if you broke into a "classified military center" in the United States, grabbed weapons and ammo, and set the location on fire, and possible were responsible for the deaths of Iranian military or police, what do you think the United States could do to you? Or, if you received a shipment of Chinese or Russian weapons and the Chinese and Russian government urged you to "take back your country", how do you think that would work out?

What do you think the United States would do to people convicted of attempting to violently overthrowing the US government. Just look at what happened to the people who were convicted of "parading" in the Capital on Jan 6th. If those protestors where armed and shooting police and army members, really, do you think the US government would give them a cookie and a pat on the head and a time out in the corner. The US CAN executes for that.

What could you be charged with?
Core Charges (Regardless of Loss of Life)

Seditious Conspiracy — 18 U.S.C. § 2384

Arson / Malicious Damage or Destruction of Government Property by Fire or Explosive — 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)

Willful Injury, Depredation, or Destruction of Government Property — 18 U.S.C. § 1361

Conspiracy to Commit Offenses Against the United States — 18 U.S.C. § 371

Theft or Attempted Theft of Government Property — 18 U.S.C. § 641

Unlawful Entry onto Military Installation — 18 U.S.C. § 1382

Additional/Enhancing Charges (Commonly Applicable)

Use or Carrying of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence — 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)

Assault on Federal Officers or Employees — 18 U.S.C. § 111

Charges Where Loss of Life Occurred

Arson Resulting in Death — 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)(3) (death penalty eligible or life imprisonment)

First-Degree Murder / Felony Murder — 18 U.S.C. § 1111 (death penalty or life imprisonment possible)

Manslaughter — 18 U.S.C. § 1112

Conspiracy to Commit Murder — 18 U.S.C. § 1117

Use of Explosive or Weapon of Mass Destruction Resulting in Death — 18 U.S.C. § 2332a (death penalty eligible)

Treason — 18 U.S.C. § 2381 (death penalty possible in qualifying cases)

Charges Where Loss of Life Occurred that CAN carry the Death Penalty in the US

• Arson Resulting in Death (§ 844(f)(3)) → death penalty or 20 years to life

• First-Degree Murder / Felony Murder (§ 1111) → death or life

• Manslaughter (§ 1112) → no (max 15/8 years)

• Conspiracy to Commit Murder (§ 1117) → any term of years or life; no death penalty

• Use of Explosive/WMD Resulting in Death (§ 2332a) → death or any term of years/life

• Treason (§ 2381) → death or minimum 5 years + fine
  
  
  And also, why no music videos and angst over executions in Saudi Arabia - example:
  March 2022: Saudi Arabia executed 81 people in one day (its largest known mass execution in modern history), many convicted of "terrorism" involving killings of civilians and security forces, targeting government personnel, and attacks on vital economic sites. This surpassed the 1980 execution of 63 militants who seized the Grand Mosque in Mecca (a direct armed takeover of a highly sensitive site). https://www.npr.org/2022/03/12/1086280204/saudi-arabia-carries-out-its-largest-known-execution-in-the-kingdoms-modern-hist
  Why? Saudi Arabia is the United State's "friend" so no one complains when the execute people for pretty much the same offenses. Saudi Arabia is OUR repressive regime and the friend of the US.
  
  Just realize that there is a massive information war on now to discredit everything about Iran. The video above is just part of the information war. And it works - you posted it.

  By the way, you didn't include any context after dropping that video to explain WHY the kid got hung. I just did that for you.
  

According to reports from Iran International, security forces or armed militia pushed the protestors, including Hatami, into the building, locked the doors, trapping them inside when the fire started.

Amnesty International and Iran Human Rights said Hatami was denied access to an independent lawyer and his confession was obtained under torture.

The judge, Judge Salavati, is known as the ' Hanging Judge' or 'Judge of Death' for the numerous death sentences he has handed down. He is sanctioned by the US for involvement in human rights abuses and for overseeing sham trials that deny defendants due process.

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Do you have a personal agenda against White people ?

Maybe the whites in Thailand gave him the impression most are bad. They are the worst people in Thailand.

Some low value posts have been removed:

13. Low-Value Posts - Posts that add no written contribution are not allowed.

    This includes emoji-only replies, very short comments, memes, GIFs, screenshots, or embedded social media posts without explanation or opinion.

14 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Its truly remarkable you were the strongest swimmer your father had.

Perhaps you should move to Iran and offer your direct support to the Velayat-e Faqih.

I offered to buy him a plane ticket to do so. Crickets.

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

1 hour ago, nick supreme said:

It’s crucial to recognize the disinformation surrounding Iran. The Iranian government is committed to peace and boasts an impressive human rights record. This is precisely why Iran was nominated to the UN Council for Human Rights and Women’s Rights. We must unite in support of Iran and acknowledge its contributions to global human rights efforts.

Good satire.

I hope it is, because even in light of the possibility that a complete utter womble is trolling - the mere manner of trolling belies a underlying nastiness and vapid moral compass.

“Iran has an impressive human rights record”
This is flat-out bo!!ox, is not even “debatable” or “a different perspective” - just trolling nonsense.
Organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have spent years documenting:

- Political repression

- Torture

- Executions (lots of them)

- Crushing of protests

Calling that ‘impressive’ is aggressively stupid, the kind of vapid, brain-off, reality-optional nonsense that's the intellectual equivalent of dribbling.

“Iran was nominated to UN Human Rights and Women’s Rights bodies”

If the the halfwit is even genuine here, misunderstanding has been turned into pure fantasy.The United Nations Human Rights Council doesn’t “reward” countries for being nice - it’s a political body where countries sit regardless of their records.
Iran hasn’t been praised - it’s been:

- Investigated

- Condemned

- Put under special monitoring

Thats formally stating Iran couldn’t meet even the lowest bar.

“Strong record on women’s rights”
This one is especially absurd.Women in Iran:

- Are legally restricted in multiple areas of life

- Must follow state-enforced dress codes

- Face punishment for non-compliance

- Have protested in huge numbers - and been violently suppressed

Calling that ‘strong women’s rights’ is a masterclass in detachment from reality - a detachment that can't be be achieved by accident - one would have to deliberately and actively ignore facts as if realty and fact personally offend them.

The intellectual bankruptcy on display in these posts is the kind of flimsy, brain-light nonsense that collapses instantly - the comments themselves posted by Nick Supreme read as if someone skipped the reading, skipped the thinking, and went straight to posting the nastiest of trolling after an innocent man was hung by a barbaric regieme.

The reality check:

- Iran is widely criticised for human rights abuses

- It is monitored and condemned internationally

- It is not some beacon of women’s rights or global humanitarian leadership

If people like Nick Supreme are going to 'try' and troll - at least pick an argument that survives contact with reality. This one doesn’t even make it past the first sentence and simply underlines an inner nastiness instead.

2 hours ago, connda said:

The judiciary also stated he acted "against national security" on behalf of foreign powers like the United States and Israel. Hatami reportedly confessed during interrogation, with parts of it aired on state television."

You seriously expect anyone to believe that confession just appeared out of nowhere - no beatings, no starvation, no torture, no threats to his family? That would be wilful stupidity.

Iran has a long, well-documented history of dragging ‘confessions’ out of people through abuse. We’re talking beatings, sexual violence, solitary confinement, threats to family members - the full package. Human Rights Watch has documented detainees being tortured and even raped to force confessions.

They’ve literally broadcast forced ‘TV confessions’ for years - hundreds of them - many later retracted by prisoners who said they were tortured into it.

Even now, protesters are being executed after trials based on confessions obtained under torture and coercion.

So no - this confessions didn't just happen cleanly, voluntarily, and politely - such a suggestion is completely detached from reality as is the exception that anyone might believe it.

28 minutes ago, bannork said:

I get what you’re trying to do playing devil’s advocate - but the comparison doesn’t hold up.

Yes, if someone in the United States broke into a military facility, stole weapons, and caused deaths, they’d be arrested, charged, and likely spend life in prison. That’s not controversial. But the key difference you’re ignoring is due process and baseline human rights. The US or UK don’t:

- Execute people for not wearing a headscarf

- Kill protesters en masse

- Force confessions through torture and then broadcast them

- Shut down the internet to crush dissent

- Arrest people for social media posts

Iran does - and that’s not opinion, that’s documented repeatedly by organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.We’ve seen:

- Protesters executed after rushed trials and coerced confessions

- Mass arrests during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests

- Internet blackouts to suppress unrest

- Women detained or beaten over compulsory hijab laws

And comparing Iran to China or Russia doesn’t strengthen your argument - it actually proves the point.Those countries also have widely criticised human rights records. Saying “they’re all bad” isn’t a defence - it’s just lowering the bar to the floor.

The reality you’re skipping is that countries aren’t equal on human rights - not even close.

On a rough 0–10 scale based on global indices:

- United Kingdom: ~8.5–9 (very strong protections)

- United States: ~8–8.5 (strong but imperfect)

-  Singapore: ~6–7 (controlled freedoms)

- Thailand: ~5–6 (mixed / restricted)

- Russia: ~3–4 (authoritarian)

- China: ~2–3 (highly controlled)

- Iran: ~1–2 (severe repression)

So if you’re going to play devil’s advocate, at least pick a comparison that isn’t completely detached from reality - instead compare like for like...

- A country where courts are independent

- Where speech doesn’t get you jailed

- Where confessions aren’t beaten out of people

- Where the state doesn’t control the internet

What you described is a serious crime anywhere. But pretending the response in a rights-based system is equivalent to how an authoritarian regime operates isn’t devil’s advocacy - it’s a false equivalence - the 'potential' uprising was against a barbaric theocratic regime of severe repression - that does not justify any killing no matter what depths of 'devils advocacy' we can attempt to apply.

Irans actions, rooted in Velayat-e Faqih, make the problem obvious - this isn’t reformable, it’s the system itself. And it’s precisely why the Iranian people need real backing from the West.

6 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I get what you’re trying to do playing devil’s advocate - but the comparison doesn’t hold up.

Yes, if someone in the United States broke into a military facility, stole weapons, and caused deaths, they’d be arrested, charged, and likely spend life in prison. That’s not controversial. But the key difference you’re ignoring is due process and baseline human rights. The US or UK don’t:

- Execute people for not wearing a headscarf

- Kill protesters en masse

- Force confessions through torture and then broadcast them

- Shut down the internet to crush dissent

- Arrest people for social media posts

Iran does - and that’s not opinion, that’s documented repeatedly by organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.We’ve seen:

- Protesters executed after rushed trials and coerced confessions

- Mass arrests during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests

- Internet blackouts to suppress unrest

- Women detained or beaten over compulsory hijab laws

And comparing Iran to China or Russia doesn’t strengthen your argument - it actually proves the point.Those countries also have widely criticised human rights records. Saying “they’re all bad” isn’t a defence - it’s just lowering the bar to the floor.

The reality you’re skipping is that countries aren’t equal on human rights - not even close.

On a rough 0–10 scale based on global indices:

- United Kingdom: ~8.5–9 (very strong protections)

- United States: ~8–8.5 (strong but imperfect)

-  Singapore: ~6–7 (controlled freedoms)

- Thailand: ~5–6 (mixed / restricted)

- Russia: ~3–4 (authoritarian)

- China: ~2–3 (highly controlled)

- Iran: ~1–2 (severe repression)

So if you’re going to play devil’s advocate, at least pick a comparison that isn’t completely detached from reality - instead compare like for like...

- A country where courts are independent

- Where speech doesn’t get you jailed

- Where confessions aren’t beaten out of people

- Where the state doesn’t control the internet

What you described is a serious crime anywhere. But pretending the response in a rights-based system is equivalent to how an authoritarian regime operates isn’t devil’s advocacy - it’s a false equivalence - the 'potential' uprising was against a barbaric theocratic regime of severe repression - that does not justify any killing no matter what depths of 'devils advocacy' we can attempt to apply.

Irans actions, rooted in Velayat-e Faqih, make the problem obvious - this isn’t reformable, it’s the system itself. And it’s precisely why the Iranian people need real backing from the West.

Richard, I never wrote those words you quote above. They refer to another poster, please remove them.

1 hour ago, blaze master said:

I offered to buy him a plane ticket to do so. Crickets.

I'll have it.

40 minutes ago, bannork said:

48 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

I get what you’re trying to do playing devil’s advocate - but the comparison doesn’t hold up.

Yes, if someone in the United States broke into a military facility, stole weapons, and caused deaths, they’d be arrested, charged, and likely spend life in prison. That’s not controversial. But the key difference you’re ignoring is due process and baseline human rights. The US or UK don’t:

- Execute people for not wearing a headscarf

- Kill protesters en masse

- Force confessions through torture and then broadcast them

- Shut down the internet to crush dissent

- Arrest people for social media posts

Iran does - and that’s not opinion, that’s documented repeatedly by organisations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.We’ve seen:

- Protesters executed after rushed trials and coerced confessions

- Mass arrests during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests

- Internet blackouts to suppress unrest

- Women detained or beaten over compulsory hijab laws

And comparing Iran to China or Russia doesn’t strengthen your argument - it actually proves the point.Those countries also have widely criticised human rights records. Saying “they’re all bad” isn’t a defence - it’s just lowering the bar to the floor.

The reality you’re skipping is that countries aren’t equal on human rights - not even close.

On a rough 0–10 scale based on global indices:

- United Kingdom: ~8.5–9 (very strong protections)

- United States: ~8–8.5 (strong but imperfect)

-  Singapore: ~6–7 (controlled freedoms)

- Thailand: ~5–6 (mixed / restricted)

- Russia: ~3–4 (authoritarian)

- China: ~2–3 (highly controlled)

- Iran: ~1–2 (severe repression)

So if you’re going to play devil’s advocate, at least pick a comparison that isn’t completely detached from reality - instead compare like for like...

- A country where courts are independent

- Where speech doesn’t get you jailed

- Where confessions aren’t beaten out of people

- Where the state doesn’t control the internet

What you described is a serious crime anywhere. But pretending the response in a rights-based system is equivalent to how an authoritarian regime operates isn’t devil’s advocacy - it’s a false equivalence - the 'potential' uprising was against a barbaric theocratic regime of severe repression - that does not justify any killing no matter what depths of 'devils advocacy' we can attempt to apply.

Irans actions, rooted in Velayat-e Faqih, make the problem obvious - this isn’t reformable, it’s the system itself. And it’s precisely why the Iranian people need real backing from the West.

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Richard, I never wrote those words you quote above. They refer to another poster, please remove them.

Apologies - I don't know how that happened - I quoted Connda directly - I'm not sure how that quote became attributed to you - very odd !!!

I've just tried to edit my post - unfortunately its too late (I'm outside of the 'edit time window') - I've reported the post and asked of the mods can reassign / reattribute the quote...

Thumbs up in the way of an apology.

3 hours ago, connda said:

Playing devil's advocate, if you broke into a "classified military center" in the United States, grabbed weapons and ammo, and set the location on fire, and possible were responsible for the deaths of Iranian military or police, what do you think the United States could do to you? Or, if you received a shipment of Chinese or Russian weapons and the Chinese and Russian government urged you to "take back your country", how do you think that would work out?

22 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

I'll have it.

Im sure you would. Start a go fund me.

1 minute ago, blaze master said:

23 minutes ago, beautifulthailand99 said:

I'll have it.

Im sure you would. Start a go fund me.

He'll need it (the go fund me) - to cover legal costs after he's accused of spying - just like a couple currently stuck there who naively attempted to ride their motorcycles across Iran.

1 hour ago, bannork said:

According to reports from Iran International, security forces or armed militia pushed the protestors, including Hatami, into the building, locked the doors, trapping them inside when the fire started.

Amnesty International and Iran Human Rights said Hatami was denied access to an independent lawyer and his confession was obtained under torture.

The judge, Judge Salavati, is known as the ' Hanging Judge' or 'Judge of Death' for the numerous death sentences he has handed down. He is sanctioned by the US for involvement in human rights abuses and for overseeing sham trials that deny defendants due process.

I've been around so long, and have seen so many wars, and have heard so much US and Western propaganda, that I can pretty just discount stories like this as just that - agitation propaganda meant to get Westerners incensed and demanding blood. What connects those propaganda stories? The use the same templates. The people writing the horror stories, like Hollywood screen writers, will use the same stories over and over again.

Here's where we're at. The vast majority of Westerners how have been raised to hate Western "enemies" will parrot propaganda talking points as the god's honest truth.
So you get sucked in. Then you begin to demand that your country "teach them a lesson," and spend hundreds of billions on war while allowing your own countries to go to s***.

I've heard it, I've seen it, when US allies do even worse it's ignored, and around and around and around we go. I got off that merry-go-round 50 years ago. But believe what you will. Most people are willfully ignorant. It's a character flaw.

4 hours ago, connda said:

• By the way, you didn't include any context after dropping that video to explain WHY the kid got hung. I just did that for you.

Do you seriously believe that official judiciary report. Torture is widespread in Iran. Any confession obtained under torture is not true.

Personally, I wouldn't do anything more violent than destroying draft files, hammering on a nuclear warhead, boarding a nuclear submarine and shutting off a pipeline. All of those are national security offences and conspiracies in today's climate. They were considered ordinary forms of protest in the 1960s. Just as should Palestine Action's Elbit sabotage be considered today.

I gather from your meticulous list of charges, you must be a fan of the death penalty. Maybe the kid really did what they allege but Iran's judiciary system is not fair or impartial. It is a religious court system as is Iran's government. Perhaps a life sentence if they want to be really harsh. Personally, I can't see this kid carrying anything more deadly than a guitar.

Any govt should never execute its own citizens. Of those 80,000, perhaps some of them were armed, perhaps they were disaffected soldiers, or Hezbollah militants or...agents provocateurs.

I don't buy anybody's story until they show me proof, say a picture of three boys, including this one, with a firebomb, with weapons.

Can any government execute someone after a couple of months?!? Were any investigations carried out save the kid's confession under torture?

His music shows his passion and, whatever happens next, people will remember him and be singing his anthem.

37 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Im sure you would. Start a go fund me.

So you are writing bouncing cheques for rhetorical purposes. Bit like the schoolyard where you say I'll bet you all the money in the world and your mate trumps it with all the money in the world + 1. So can you please apologise to the class for telling a fib and promise not to do it again !

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

I say bring it on ASAP, not for the 18yo types fighting for freedom but murderer's etc. Paying tax so murderer's are looked after in prison is plain wrong

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

I say bring it on ASAP, not for the 18yo types fighting for freedom but murderer's etc. Paying tax so murderer's are looked after in prison is plain wrong

You sure are a hard case, scuba. All prisoners should be treated with kindness and compassion. Their punishment is their separation from their family & community.