The Hypocrisy of the Left in the West Exposed: “Selective Moral Blindness”
The Context of Protests in Iran
Since late December 2025, Iran has been engulfed in widespread protests, intensifying significantly in the first two weeks of January 2026. Reports emerging from the Islamic Republic indicate unprecedented brutal repression, including a near-total internet blackout. Critics are highlighting what they describe as a “deafening silence” from progressive left movements, which had previously orchestrated large-scale demonstrations in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
Disparity in Global Reaction
Coverage in The Times remarked on the apparent indifference of the left, emphasizing that this disengagement is not due to a lack of information. As images and testimonies detailing live gunfire and heavy bombardments of civilian areas flood in, there is an ideological decision to look away when the oppressor is not aligned with Western or liberal values.
Vostarts from the Left
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn emphasized in a statement that the current unrest in Iran is being exploited cynically by far-right forces in the West as a pretext for military intervention and a push for “forced regime change.” He asserted that the left’s primary obligation is to prevent further military escalation in the region, stressing that Iran’s future should be determined by the Iranian people, free from foreign militarism.
Death Toll and Reports of Violence
According to various reports, the death toll from the current wave of protests ranges from an official estimate of approximately 2,000 to unverified accounts from exile groups suggesting figures as high as 12,000 to even 20,000 fatalities. Eyewitness accounts include harrowing details of Revolutionary Guard raids on hospitals, such as at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ilam, where injured protesters were arrested directly from their hospital beds.
Public Perception and Political Debate
Despite the grave nature of the events unfolding in Iran, the disparity in public visibility of the protests compared to other struggles in the Middle East remains a heated topic in political discourse as 2026 begins. This phenomenon raises critical questions about the consistency of solidarity within progressive movements, especially when juxtaposed with global responses to crises in different regions.
In the context of international leftist solidarity, analysts and commentators continue to discuss the implications of this selective moral blindness and the political ramifications of ignoring the plight of those oppressed by regimes that do not fit a particular narrative.
The situation in Iran prompts an urgent call for awareness and engagement, urging a reevaluation of international advocacy principles.