As Iran’s leaders and citizens gathered to lament the death of General Qassem Soleimani, attendees were trampled when a stampede occurred, causing 56 deaths or more as multitudes more were left injured, as reported by Fox News. Were all truly mourners or did some rejoice?

It may be difficult to differentiate between the state propaganda of a regime such as Iran’s media showing multitudes in a crowd of mourners bewailing the death of a general and the facts regarding the viewpoints and status of it’s citizens. Known for the repression of its own peoples, a failing economy, and the suppression of women who yearn to be free of oppressive coverings, those on the outside may not be able to determine the true depth to which the many of the people of Iran oppose the regime and its oppressive techniques that have kept the population in bondage to forced theological standards.

What was once a free society was transformed through supposed theocratic rule by those of a Muslim faith into a brutal, dictatorial regime. Many have called for the resignation of Rouhani and the powerful clerical leaders. How many in the crowd were truly mourning a general and how many were rejoicing and forced to attend the crowds remains to be seen?