Posted on 01/06/2020 7:49:54 AM PST by JOHN ADAMS
Sentiments among Iranian social media users appear to be dramatically divided over the targeted killing of IRGC Qods Force Commander Qassem Soleimani. Most of the debate revolves around the variations in the characterization of the man and the way his life ended.
The debate is whether he was "the world's biggest terrorist" as President Donald Trump has said or "a national hero" and "an icon" as many Iranians, even some of the opponents of the Islamic Republic seem to believe.
Another aspect of the online debate is about whether he has been "Killed, martyred, or assassinated." Some Iranian Twitter users have been seen angrily attacking others who characterize the man as anything less than a martyr.
A BBC Persian journalist Kayvan Hosseini has observed in a tweet, "few Iranian figures have given way to such a divide among Iranians of various socio-economic classes and educational levels." He observed that the divide which existed before Soleimani's demise has now further deepened and turned into "serious prejudice." A man holding a picture of Qassem Soleimani and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the march against the Qods Force commander's killing.
Most of the debate has been taking place on Twitter while on other platforms including Instagram which is more popular in Iran than Twitter, there is very little about Soleimani.
Radio Farda analyst Morad Veisi wrote in a tweet that those with positive and negative attitudes toward Soleimani cannot tolerate each other's views and are blocking those with a different view in order not to see their posts and comments.
Apart from blocking. Trolls on both sides have been attacking those on the other side. Yasser Mirdamadi, an Iranian academic in the UK, has complained that trolls on both sides have attacked him, some for not specifying that Soleimani was "assassinated," and others because he had criticized those who cheered his death.
One Iranian Twitter user has listed around 70 Iranian celebrities who have paid tribute to Soleimani. The list is still being updated. Ironically, a user who writes under an alias like many others in and out of Iran fearing the government's occasional clampdown on social media activists, has scornfully labelled the celebrities as "those who have sold themselves and their country."
Although conflicting attitudes toward a single subject is a universal characteristic of Twitter all over the world, Golboo Fayazi regretted in a tweet that people on both sides of the spectrum used swear words while challenging each other. Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (C), Iranian President Hassan Rouhani(2nd R) and the top IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari, in a religious ceremony in Tehran on March 2, 2017.
In another development, Fatemeh Mahdiani wrote in a tweet that even Mehdi Karroubi, an Iranian political figure who has been under house arrest for nearly a decade for his opposition to Khamenei, has condoled everyone for Soleimani's death.
In the meantime, many on Twitter have been writing about the Stockholm Syndrome among Iranians who support figures such as Soleimani. By definition, the syndrome explains the situation of hostages that tend to sympathize with hostage takers.
On the other hand, others such as Hossein Mehrzad have written about the Washington Syndrome, in which the victims will support "any crime the United States commits" and try to justify it.
Others have challenged the idea that Soleimani was popular, attributing it more to organized propaganda than to genuine sympathy. Jalal Saeedi pointed out the prevalence of such propaganda and pointed out that during the 1979 Islamic revolution there was a well-engineered propaganda campaign that claimed Ayatollah Khomeini's face was visible on the moon.
Meanwhile, Radio Farda analyst Reza Haqiqatnezhad summed up some of the reasons for Soleimani's iconic imageamong some Iranians in a tweet on 3 January: "There has been a gigantic propaganda campaign ranging from the state TV to Friday prayers podiums, video clips, images on T-shirts, front-page pictures to comments by Foreign Minister Zarif and celebrated author Mahmoud Dolatabadi, and so on… to create the image of a superman, and a national hero out of Qassem Soleimani." He concluded that out of proportion reactions to his demise are not odd. "They are the result of all that work."
Hey Iranian people — now is the time. If not now, then when?
As in who wants to be next.
The internal arguments are moot
The certainty is that Soleimani is dead
He was a beloved icon of the Democrat Party.
Why would the people care about a home grown terrorist unless they are Ordered to care.
Dear Morons
How did the President get the Iranians to attack the US Embassy in Baghdad?
The US performed a flawless direct proportional response to the people who planned, and organized, that internationally recognized act of war. A target which has direct documented links to the assassination of 700 US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan
That you infantile scum are trying to make him out as a victim indicates you are the same sort of scum as he was.
The debate is whether he was “the world’s biggest terrorist” or “a national hero”
Looks like he was both.
The last paragraph pretty much sums it up.
If you’re pro-regime or too fearful to say anything against it, you come out as a fan of Soleimani.
If you’re vehemently opposed to the regime, you come out as a fan of killing him.
biggest, no more.
the “world’s biggest terrorist” was hacked by
rotating kinju knife into little pieces.
It is extremely important to note that the man was not killed in Iran. He was killed in Iraq, and all that that implies. Imagine him being killed in Fargo. That’s kinda how I see this.
He’s a national hero to a nation run by terrorists.
Exactly
Iranian thugs are thrilled the American liberal press is standing with them... against Trump - against Americans - against our soldiers.
“Another aspect of the online debate is about whether he has been “Killed, martyred, or assassinated.”
Dead, all that matters is he is dead and he will never again take another’s life.May he burn in the eternal fires of a very special section of Hell reserved for scum like him.
Mainly, he's just DEAD. But for a more appropriate euphemism about it, try "killed in action".
Man are we on the same page, or what? See my post following yours by about 30 seconds. GMTA I guess.
Foo, we even have them here at FR!
Qassem Soleimani was KILLED as an enemy combatant in an undeclared but ongoing war between Iran and the the United States. What, the Quds force would not have taken out a US commander if the opportunity presented itself? The Mafia has respected rules of engagement much more scrupulously than this despicable viper. His almost wanton killing of combatants and non-combatants alike, in a series of moves calculated to strike terror in the hearts of all who would resist, is ample demonstration of his overall evil intent.
The Quds kill machine ain’t the equivalent of Special Forces.
Just like the lying paid trolls here, there are sure to be the same scumbags on Iranian social media.
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