An Iranian opposition group, whose name translates as “Iranian Residents in Japan Seeking Freedom for Their Homeland,” held a protest rally on May 31 outside the Iranian Embassy in Tokyo. Participants condemned the Iranian authorities’ crackdown on anti-government protesters, chanting slogans such as, “Do not execute the Iranian people” and “Do not kill our youth.”
The protesters said that freedom of expression is severely restricted in Iran, making it impossible to openly advocate for freedom at home. As a result, they have been forced to continue their activism abroad, including in Japan.
Continuing Repression
Anti-government protests that spread across Iran in January were met with a violent crackdown by the authorities. Estimates of the death toll range from several thousand to tens of thousands.
Iran has continued to execute detained protesters, prompting strong condemnation from international human rights organizations. In March, a teenage boy who had competed in international wrestling tournaments was among those executed by hanging.
About 110 Iranian nationals residing in Japan attended the gathering outside the embassy. Holding up smartphones to record the event, they chanted protest slogans in Persian toward the embassy.
A 26-year-old Iranian IT worker who came to Japan about a year and three months ago told reporters, “We can live freely in Japan, but our friends in Iran cannot freely make their voices heard.”
The protester said friends in Iran had urged them to continue speaking out. “They told us, ‘Please let the world hear our voices.’ They are grateful that we can carry out these activities in Japan. For the sake of our friends and family members who cannot speak freely, we must continue taking part in these gatherings.”
Another 26-year-old participant, who had attended several of the group’s previous protests, said he had received messages from friends in Iran thanking the group and saying, “In this hopeless environment, you are our only source of hope.”
The participant explained, “I want to continue joining every demonstration and do whatever I can to bring their voices to the world. Government repression and executions continue in Iran, while the economy keeps deteriorating. Many people are struggling to find hope for the future. I hope our activities in Japan can offer some encouragement to people back home.”
Internet Restrictions Persist
Since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran, internet access in the country has been heavily restricted. Although Iranian authorities announced in late May that services had been restored, major social media platforms remain blocked and online censorship continues, leaving the country under what activists describe as a digital lockdown.
Despite the risk of arrest, friends of the protesters in Iran have reportedly remained in contact through VPNs and other tools used to bypass government restrictions.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Shimpei Okuhara, The Sankei Shimbun