HARRISBURG — Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-33) today condemned the Iranian regime’s violent suppression of recent nationwide protests, which has resulted in significant civilian casualties, mass arrests and a sweeping shutdown of internet access. He also drew a historical parallel to the Soviet Union’s brutal suppression of freedom movements in Eastern Europe during the Cold War — a period when Mastriano himself served on the front lines as a U.S. Army officer.
“What we are witnessing in Iran today — the killing of peaceful protestors, mass detentions and cutting off communication — is tragically familiar,” Mastriano said. “During the Cold War, I was stationed in Europe and saw firsthand how the Soviet regime crushed dissent in Eastern Europe. Authoritarian regimes always fear truth and freedom, and they resort to violence and censorship to maintain control.”
Recent credible reports show that security forces in Iran have used lethal force against largely unarmed civilians, including women and children, resulting in hundreds of deaths, with thousands more detained. The Iranian government also imposed a nationwide internet blackout to silence dissent and conceal human rights abuses from the global community. Human rights organizations warn that these tactics mirror historical patterns of authoritarian control, where regimes isolate populations to suppress resistance.
Mastriano announced plans to introduce a resolution condemning these actions by the Iranian regime and reaffirming Pennsylvania’s commitment to human rights and freedom.
“History teaches us that silence in the face of tyranny enables oppression,” Mastriano said. “Just as we stood against Soviet domination, we must now speak out against the Iranian regime’s brutality. This resolution is a moral statement that Pennsylvania stands with the oppressed and against authoritarianism.”
The resolution will condemn the killing of civilians, violent suppression and internet shutdowns by the Iranian regime; express solidarity with victims, including women, children and minorities; urge federal authorities to pursue accountability through diplomatic and legal means; and reject authoritarianism and state-sponsored terror in all its forms.
CONTACT: Don Beishl