Iran International
As images of brutality and prison abuses flood the internet following Bashar al-Assad’s fall, Iran’s tightly controlled media has cautiously criticized the deposed leader, hinting that a similar fate could befall the Islamic Republic.
“The lesson we should take is to be mindful so that [our] people do not get fed up and weary of the country and its circumstances and maintain their hope in the future,” conservative politician and journalist Naser Imani told Rouydad news website Monday.
While distancing Iran from Syria’s experience, he cautiously added, “The situation in the Islamic Republic is not comparable to Syria at all. Nevertheless, one should take note of the public opinion.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has consistently praised Bashar al-Assad as a key figure in the “Axis of Resistance” and maintained unwavering support for him against adversaries. In 2019, during a meeting with the deposed Syrian president, Khamenei called him “the hero of the Arab world.”
Any strong criticism of Assad or Iran’s support for him could be interpreted as a challenge to Khamenei’s views, risking serious consequences for media outlets and public figures expressing such opinions.
The restrictions on criticizing Assad became apparent when several prominent public figures deleted critical social media posts soon after Assad’s ouster, often without explanation. These deletions were likely the result of pressure from security forces.
A commentary on the moderate conservative Asr-e Iran website suggested that foreign conspiracies may have played a role in Assad’s downfall, citing his support for the “Axis of Resistance.” However, it noted that Assad did not appeal to Syrians for support because he knew he would not get any.
“The question is should a government not be wise and discerning and treat its people with love and tolerance to protect itself if it is facing so much hostility from the outside?” the commentary asked, adding that ignoring the “views of the majority and the public’s demands” could be “the most damaging and fatal mistake a politician and a government can make,” as did Assad.
The Islamic Republic faces multiple crises at home and abroad, including Israeli strikes on its regional allies, economic devastation from Donald Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign, setbacks in relations with Europe, and widespread corruption and decades-long human rights violations that have eroded public trust. Additionally, there is growing demand for greater social and political freedoms.
Ultra-hardliners dominating the Parliament have been pushing for the enforcement of a very controversial new hijab law, which even many conservatives and prominent clerics view as deeply damaging given the current circumstances.
Despite extensive moderation and the removal of “unpublishable” comments, some remarks published by the conservative Alef news website regarding recent events in Syria reveal that many ordinary Iranians are drawing parallels between Assad’s rule in Syria and the situation at home.
“A country’s power lies in its people, not its military force and the nuclear weapons,” a reader commented on an editorial Monday titled “Why Doesn’t the Syrian Army Fight [for Assad]?” The comment received 97 likes and only three dislikes, reflecting strong agreement among readers.
Another reader remarked, “There would be no civil war in Syria and not so much damage and loss of life if Assad had given its people some degree of political freedom and invited all political groups to participate in the government ten or fifteen years ago.”
This comment garnered 149 likes, with only six readers disapproving.
Similarly, readers gave strong approval to comments on another article, “Why Did Assad Fall?” published Sunday on the same website. The article attributed Assad’s downfall to his failure to reform the government.
One comment noted that Assad had claimed the backing of 95 percent of Syrians in elections held three years ago and emphasized, “social capital [is] the biggest asset of a government.”
Nearly 300 readers agreed with the comment, with only three expressing disapproval.
