A movement against oppression.

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By Shahana Naqvi, Copy Edited By Adam Rizvi, The India Observer, TIO: News channels, social media handles, and the internet are brimming with news of the conflict between Iran and Israel, bringing the world to the cusp of a possible World War III.

The strikes by Israel and America represent the most significant foreign military intervention in Iran since the Iran–Iraq War, and an open defiance of international law — attacking a sovereign country unlawfully and intentionally.

It comes at a time when Iran, a Shia-majority nation, is preparing itself for Muharram, which commemorates a very dark chapter in Islamic history — a movement against oppression that continues to inspire and instill hope against tyrannical rule. A school of thought that has inspired generations in their fight for justice.

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It is a month marked by commemorations, recitations, and remembrance of the brutal murder of Imam Hussain (A.S.), who was the son of Imam Ali — the first Shia Imam and rightful heir to the principles laid down by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) — which the corrupt and tyrant ruler Yazid sought to hijack.

My hand craves to write the history unfolding in front of me, in which I can relate recent events to the tragedy of Karbala that took place in 680.

Self-Defense

THEN
In the Battle of Karbala, the first arrow was shot by the commander of Yazid’s army, Umr ibn Saad, toward Imam Hussain and his followers while they were praying — marking the beginning of the battle on the 10th of Muharram, better known as the Day of Ashura.

NOW
On 12th June 2025, the world woke up to the news that Israel, the genocidal state, had attacked hundreds of locations inside Iranian territory and carried out the assassination of its top military commanders, advisors, scientists, and members of its diplomatic think tank — marking the beginning of the conflict we witness today.

Iran, as a sovereign state, has the right to defend its sovereignty.

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Negotiations

THEN
Imam Hussain tried to negotiate with the tyrannical forces of Yazid after being forcefully surrounded, attempting to bring peace — which the enemy, in their thirst for worldly power, blatantly refused.

NOW
We all know that Iran was in the midst of diplomatic negotiations with America when the attack on its soil occurred, with Israel targeting various Iranian locations and top Iranian officials — especially those engaged in diplomatic dialogue with the U.S.

Israel and America coordinated and planned this operation to topple the Iranian government.

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Propaganda

THEN
In the aftermath of Imam Hussain’s brutal murder, the evil regime imprisoned the terrorized and hapless women and children of his camp and paraded them across the cities of its vast empire, spreading false propaganda that a rebel had risen against the ruler.

The brave sister of Imam Hussain, Bibi Zainab, in her sermons addressed to the evil governor of Kufa — on the way to Yazid’s seat of power, and later in Yazid’s palace — shattered all the false propaganda peddled by the evil regime. This paved the way for public outcry, which ultimately led to revolt and Yazid’s humiliating downfall. So much so that Yazid’s own son disowned the very throne his evil father tried to cling to.

NOW
Iran, after the Islamic Revolution, has been criticized by the West for allegedly oppressing women and children. This myth was shattered recently when Iranian TV presenter Sehr Emami continued addressing her fellow countrymen live on air even as the Press building was directly hit by Israeli warplanes — showing the world her love, loyalty, and dedication to her country in the face of foreign oppression.

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Oppression

THEN
Muharram is a movement against oppression and injustice.

Shia Muslims around the world mark this month with commemorations of the Martyrs of Karbala and the brutality of Yazid ibn Muawiya’s army — the most powerful force of that time — against the family of the Holy Prophet, his grandson Imam Hussain, and his family, including women and children.

NOW
The world, especially the Islamic world, has been a silent spectator to the most well-documented genocide in human history, taking place in Gaza (Palestine) since October 2023.

Iran has always stood against the illegal occupation and brutality of the Israeli regime, which has not spared any human life — especially children, who have been maimed, orphaned, murdered, and left under the rubble of buildings bombed by the Zionist regime.

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Sovereignty over Humiliation

NOW AND THEN
Iran is probably the only sovereign state in the Middle East that has no American military base.

Just like the loyal 72 followers of Imam Hussain (A.S.), it has blatantly refused to bow in unconditional surrender before the mighty West — America and its allies.

Eighty-five-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a statement declaring that Iran refuses to stay under any foreign flag when it is already under the banner of Abbas ibn Ali — the brave stepbrother of Imam Hussain (A.S.), who was brutally killed by Yazid’s murderous regime.

Against Mighty Rulers

THEN
Yazid ibn Muawiya was the ruler of a vast empire stretching across what today would cover four continents.

To strengthen his position as the Khalifa or leader of Muslims, Yazid sought allegiance from Imam Hussain — a request the Imam refused, choosing instead to rise against him in defense of the Islamic principles of Amr bil Maroof wa Nahi anil Munkar (enjoining good and forbidding evil).

NOW
History repeats itself today, with the followers of Imam Hussain — the Iranian nation — standing against two nuclear powers: Israel and America.

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Leader Alone

THEN
Imam Hussain’s friends and acquaintances were the first to be martyred, followed by his family — including his six-month-old baby, Hazrat Ali Asghar, who was struck with an arrow used to hunt wild beasts in response to Hussain’s plea for water.

The Battle of Karbala lasted from morning to afternoon. Imam Hussain, left alone and thirsty after three days of siege by those who claimed to be followers of the Prophet (PBUH), bravely stood in the battlefield. Even in death, the enemy did not spare his sacred body — trampling it under horses’ hooves.

NOW
Iran, under the wise and just leadership of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is perhaps the only Muslim country to speak openly against the atrocities and genocide in Gaza. It is now paying the price for speaking the truth.

From the brutal assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, to the murder of Hezbollah chief Syed Hasan Nasrallah, the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and the recent attack on Iran’s strategic think tank — including the senior advisor to Ayatollah Khamenei (who narrowly survived) — these events were strategically designed to isolate the Supreme Leader and bring down the Iranian government.

But this effort backfired. Ayatollah Khamenei, now 85, enjoys the full love and support of the Iranian people.

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Standing Alone

THEN
Yazid was so desperate to secure Imam Hussain’s allegiance that he dispatched an army of over 300,000 soldiers — believing the Imam might surrender under psychological pressure.

Imam Hussain’s small caravan, including women and children, was cornered in the desert of Ninevah (Karbala), Iraq. Left alone and refusing allegiance to an evil regime, he stood firm — supported by just 72 loyal companions. Despite trauma, thirst, and the desert heat, he registered his eternal legacy as the Symbol of Resistance against injustice.

NOW
In its fight against illegal occupation, genocide, and unjust war, Iran finds itself isolated — even among Muslim-majority nations, many of whom side with America and its allies.

In response to Israeli and American aggression, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei stated: “Iran is oppressed, Iran is alone — but not weak.”

There are many parallels to Karbala in today’s events. I have tried to shed light upon only a few key points in this writing.

The Tragedy of Karbala has many hidden lessons and words of wisdom in its chapters. It is Imam Hussain’s University — brought to life by his supreme sacrifice and patience in the face of evil — a beacon for preserving human dignity, rights, and empathy in our hearts and souls.

Ark of Salvation

The revolution of Imam Hussain was forged to distinguish Right from Wrong, between the Oppressed and the Oppressor. It gives hope to the weak, the lonely, and the oppressed — and shall continue to inspire generations striving to bring peace and justice to the world.

Conclusion

A poem by the famous 13th-century Persian poet Sa’adi is beautifully woven into this moment of reflection — one that emphasizes human unity and compassion. His timeless verses remind us that humanity is one body, and if one part is in pain, the rest cannot remain indifferent.

As of now, Iran has won this war morally, spiritually, and militarily. Wars fought on courage, values, and principles carry far more weight than those fought using deadly weapons against defenseless civilians — breaking international laws, violating sovereignty, and assassinating members of a country’s intellectual and strategic core.

This war is different from others in recent times. It has, to a large extent, exposed the fragile ivory tower of Western propaganda and the duplicitous statements of American President Donald Trump, who seems to shift his stance by the minute. His unilateral decision to bomb a sovereign nation without Congressional approval stands in direct defiance of democratic norms and international law.

It has also laid bare the dependency of the genocidal Zionist regime of Israel on America, and its inability to independently protect its citizens. The regime’s moral decay is reflected in its leadership, embodied by Benjamin Netanyahu, who has come to symbolize both arrogance and impunity.

Whatever the coming days may reveal, history will never forget the rise of the Islamic Republic of Iran — standing tall against two nuclear powers despite grave threats and unimaginable risks. And let us not forget, America remains the only country in history to have used nuclear weapons against a civilian population, in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, at the close of World War II.

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Curated by Humra Kidwai

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