The Iranian government and their online allies are working overtime to "prove" the "vast majority" of Iranians are mourning the death of leading global terrorist Qassem Soleimani.
Ppl are sharing videos of ‘mourners’ & claiming Iranians are united in their love for #Soleimani
— Yasmine Mohammed ?????? ???? ?? (@YasMohammedxx) January 6, 2020
This is false. It is propaganda
I dont know if we can counter a narrative that is top down from mainstream media, but we have to try. Please help by sharing @AlinejadMasih’s tweets: https://t.co/bGmZ5zIwED
“The media in the Islamic Republic is heavily controlled. Public gatherings are allowed only if they are pro-regime. Critics are jailed or shot...So it’s not hard to use all the tools and resources of the state to stage a funeral procession.” https://t.co/EMsYnCNlLj
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 6, 2020
While they shut down the internet for the people of Iran, government backed and proxy accounts are posting videos showing large crowds at his funeral. Those who refuse to attend, in Iran and Iraq, are being killed.
Iran-backed Hezbollah militias killed one protester and wounded others in Basra due to their refusal to participate in symbolic funeral for Soleimani and Muhandis.#Iraq https://t.co/kNM1V8cpWp https://t.co/eEBnGsVaEg
— Baxtiyar Goran (@BaxtiyarGoran) January 5, 2020
Meanwhile in Iraq, where anti-Iran protestors have been active for months, they are celebrating Soleimani's death. The same is happening in Syria and around the broader region.
Iraqis — Iraqis — dancing in the street for freedom; thankful that General Soleimani is no more. pic.twitter.com/huFcae3ap4
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) January 3, 2020
Frankly, I didn’t expect the overwhelming celebration of the death of #QassamSoleimani in the region. I realize he had enemies in *some* countries, but the support for the operation has truly been overwhelming and across the whole region. Beyond what I imagined. Worth saying.
— Hassan Hassan (@hxhassan) January 5, 2020
Syrians handed out sweets to celebrate the death of a war criminal who brutalized their country.
— Mark Dubowitz (@mdubowitz) January 6, 2020
DC think tank experts took to oped pages to whitewash his crimes.
That’s quite a split screen. https://t.co/HQWUJuJGT6
Iraqi people celebrating now in Tahrir Square, #Baghdad after news of Qassem Suleimani’s killing.#Iraq #Iran pic.twitter.com/RKhZRuKXNm
— Sara Assaf (@SaraAssaf) January 3, 2020
Who is breathing a sigh of relief that Gen Soleimani is dead? Dissidents, feminists & secularists from Iran, Iraq, Syria & Lebanon.
— Asra Q. Nomani, PI (@AsraNomani) January 3, 2020
He was a Shia Osama bin Laden with a national treasury & flag.
Who is crying foul? Obama alum Ben Rhodes, CodePink & Squad cocreator Cenk Uyger??????
Exit question:
Why are Western journalists letting Iranian officials spew disinformation instead of asking hard questions like: Why did your regime murder 1500 of your own unarmed citizens who were peacefully protesting? Why did your regime use Kataib Hezbollah to attack the US Embassy in Iraq?
— Rep. Will Hurd (@HurdOnTheHill) January 5, 2020