U.S. State Department: Silence Against the Suppression of the Iranian People is Unacceptable, the World Must Protest

On Wednesday, July 6, the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State called on more countries around the world to protest against the Iranian government's suppression of its people. Matthew Miller, during his daily press conference, stated in response to the Persian section of Voice of America, "If other countries also protest the ruthless suppression of the Iranian people, we will welcome it." Earlier on the same day, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken released the State Department's report on the state of international religious freedoms in the world for 2023, coinciding with the "International Day in Support of Victims of Torture." In this context, the spokesperson was asked what other options the U.S. government has in mind to ensure the rights of the people, aside from sanctioning officials involved in the suppression. Matthew Miller did not provide a clear answer but referred to previous actions by the Biden administration in support of the Iranian people, including "highlighting human rights violations within Iran" and "emphasizing the suppression of the freedoms of the Iranian people." He mentioned that discussing this issue with various countries around the world, publishing reports accessible to the public, and raising the issue in international forums are other ways the Biden administration tries to draw global attention to the human rights situation in Iran, which is continuously violated by the Islamic Republic. The spokesperson further clarified that in such gatherings, the United States encourages other countries to protest as well. To justify the U.S. government's actions in this regard, Matthew Miller referenced other measures such as facilitating access to the internet for the people and sanctioning Islamic Republic officials. He responded to the assertion that sanctions against Islamic Republic officials have not benefited the people by stating that this action is "one of the available tools." This U.S. State Department official expressed solidarity with political prisoners active in the "Black Tuesdays" campaign, stating, "I completely agree that the world should pay more attention to the suppression of the Iranian people." The human rights campaign "Black Tuesdays No to Execution" has been ongoing for the twenty-second consecutive week, with participation from political prisoners in various Islamic Republic prisons in Iran. The website Dadban reported, citing a knowledgeable source, that prisoners in Unit 4 of Qazalhesar Prison referred to the remarks of the Supreme Leader on the International Day Against Torture as a "serious alarm regarding human rights and the expansion of violations by the Islamic Republic and its judicial and security apparatus" and emphasized the necessity for serious public attention both inside and outside the country to the issue of human rights violations in Iran. The political prisoners' reference was to Ali Khamenei's remarks on July 2 to judicial officials, where he stated, "Judges should not refer to Western human rights principles for their rulings." The U.S. State Department spokesperson noted, "Certainly, the regime (Islamic Republic) will not listen to our words, but we will continue to support the people in their pursuit of freedoms, such as freedom of expression and access to information from outside the country." Gita Arian, a senior reporter for the Persian section of Voice of America, has primarily focused on foreign policy news. She began her journalism career in 1987 with radio work and joined Voice of America in 2004.