In recent global protests, the Iranian flag has sparked controversy as a symbol of the oppressive regime. Demonstrators in London scaled the balcony of the Iranian embassy to remove the flag associated with the current government.
On a popular social media platform X, the official flag of the Islamic Republic was replaced with the pre-revolutionary “Lion-and-Sun” symbol, which has gained prominence as a protest emblem in Iran against the authoritarian rule.
The platform’s update, initiated after a user’s request to change the Iranian flag emoji, was swiftly implemented across the site, leading to accounts affiliated with the Iranian state displaying the historical symbol. The temporary transition caused the official government accounts to briefly feature the protest flag before its complete removal.
Simultaneously, a protester in London disrupted an anti-regime demonstration by removing the Iranian flag from the embassy’s balcony. The Metropolitan Police estimated a crowd of 500 to 1,000 individuals participating in the protest in Kensington.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the importance of protecting individuals who speak out against the Iranian government, particularly under the leadership of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Cooper urged for the preservation of fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech and peaceful assembly, without the fear of violence or retaliation.
Cooper, along with counterparts in the UK, France, and Germany, issued a joint statement calling on the Iranian authorities to heed the voices of dissent and uphold these essential rights.