Amid global protests, the controversial flag of Iran has taken center stage. In London, a protester scaled the balcony of the Iranian embassy and forcefully removed the flag, viewed as a representation of the oppressive regime.
Meanwhile, on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, administrators replaced Iran’s official flag with the pre-1979 revolution flag, known as the “Lion-and-Sun” flag, which has resurfaced as a symbol of dissent in Iran against the current authoritarian rule.
The alteration on X involved switching from the post-revolution red emblem to the traditional Lion-and-Sun symbol that historically adorned Iranian flags during the monarchy era. This change affected all accounts associated with Iran, showcasing the pre-revolution symbol. The modification occurred following a user’s request to Nikita Bear, the head of product, and Elon Musk, the CEO of the company.
Bear responded promptly and indicated that the change was in progress, with the update expected to go live the next day on the web platform.
Initially, official Iranian accounts briefly displayed the Lion-and-Sun protest flag alongside their names before completely removing the emoji from their X accounts.
In London, during an anti-regime demonstration, a protester breached the Iranian embassy balcony and brought down the national flag. The Metropolitan Police estimated a crowd of 500 to 1,000 people gathered in Kensington for the protest.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized the importance of speaking out against the Iranian government without fear of violence or retaliation. Cooper stressed the fundamental rights of free speech and peaceful assembly, urging the Iranian authorities to heed the calls for change.
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