Since taking office, President Trump has made it clear that he is not going to shy away from the Iran threat. He pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and he re-imposed tough economic sanctions. He put major restrictions on countries importing Iranian oil and it caused a bit of a ruffle around the world.
However, very little attention has been paid to the domestic situation in Iran. The regime, for the past four decades, has been terrorising its own people. They have denied the people the most basic of freedoms and human rights. The regime has committed some of the most horrific abuses and crimes against humanity. But very little attention is paid to this.
From the execution of young people who were minors at the time of their alleged crime to the mistreatment and discrimination of religious and ethnic minorities.
Child marriage is another issue that the Iranian regime has failed to control. Alarmingly, young girls, some younger than 14, are forced to marry. The practice is more commonly found in rural areas and there are no age limits in place to protect the children.
Reports indicate that over 1,500 cases of young girls being forced into marriage have been registered in the western province of Hamedan. A judiciary official noted that these marriages took place in the year between March 2017 and March 2018.
The official also said that there was a trend of marrying off girls before they reach the age of 15 when they are often considered too old and too difficult to coerce.
The antiquated laws governing Iran allow young girls to enter into marriage if the father has a court permit showing his consent.
Children’s rights are ignored by the Iranian regime and it is something that international human rights organisations have flagged as a major problem. Many organisations have deplored Iran’s treatment of children, including Amnesty International that has called on the regime to halt the practice of executing people who were charged with a crime when they were a minor.
The people of Iran want change. They want to live in a country where they are protected by rights that the leadership will take notice of. They want their children to grow up in a country where they will be valued, respected and kept safe. And this is why they want regime change.
There is no place for medieval practices in the modern world. It is time for the primitive regime and its archaic values to be replaced by a modern leadership that treats the people the way they deserve. And it is the responsibility of leaders around the world to support the people in their quest for this.
