Wealthy Iranians Flock to Van, a Turkish Resort City
"Beneficiaries of the Regime"
As a result of the harsh crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran, at least several thousand people have died. Meanwhile, reports have emerged that some wealthy and privileged Iranians have left their homeland to enjoy parties in neighboring Turkey. The stark contrast between these behaviors and the ongoing civilian casualties highlights the deep divisions within Iranian society.
Body bags piled up in the yard of Kahrizak Forensic Center, a forensic facility on the outskirts of Tehran, Iran. Photo by AP Yonhap News
The British daily The Telegraph reported on January 18 (local time) that while protests and bloody crackdowns have continued for more than two weeks in Iran, members of Iran’s wealthy and elite classes have been seen gathering to drink and party in Van, a resort city in eastern Turkey near the Iranian border.
Sources living in Turkey stated that affluent Iranians have recently been moving to Van to escape political instability, and that some among them are supporters of the current Islamic regime. One Iranian described them as “people who benefit from the regime,” adding, “They left temporarily because they were worried about staying in Iran. Many came here to spend money they earned in Iran.”
Van is a city with a large number of Iranian visitors, and shops and cafes catering primarily to Iranians are found throughout the city. Restaurant menus are written in Farsi, and Persian cuisine is easy to find. According to the outlet, spending a night at a club in Van-including entrance fees, alcohol, and hookah-costs about 110,000 Korean won, which is equivalent to the average monthly wage in Iran.
Iranians frequenting clubs in Turkey are reportedly expressing perceptions of the protests that differ from those of participants within Iran. Despite internet access and international calls being cut off throughout Iran, the outlet reported that a woman staying in Turkey was still able to communicate with her relatives three days ago.
In contrast, reports indicate that the situation inside Iran is far more severe. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), based in the United States, stated that the death toll related to the protests has reached 3,090 so far, and the number of people arrested has exceeded 22,000. Other human rights organizations have suggested that the actual number of victims may be even higher.
Some analyses indicate that the death toll from the harsh crackdown on anti-government protests in Iran could reach as high as 18,000. The Sunday Times, the weekend edition of The Times of London, reported based on local medical reports that the number of deaths could be between 16,500 and 18,000, with up to 330,000 injured.
The Iranian protests began amid economic difficulties, including a sharp devaluation of the currency, and have continued for several weeks under a forceful government response. The Telegraph pointed out that the ability of some wealthy Iranians to freely enjoy consumer lifestyles abroad demonstrates the deep social and economic disparities in Iranian society, and that such discontent is one of the main drivers behind the protests.
The report also predicted that although Iranian authorities have suppressed dissent through brutal crackdowns, it will be difficult to rule out the possibility of renewed protests as long as economic grievances remain unresolved.
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